@zanelengwenyama
On 23 August
2011 the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, issued a statement saying
that government has decided to adopt breastfeeding as the only strategy to feed infants. He
further said the distribution of breast milk substitutes through health
facilities would be discontinued. Motsoaledi believes it’s essential to do this as South
Africa is one of 12 countries in the world where the child mortality rate has
been on the increase. The minister said this method is safe and would assist in
reducing the death of babies in the country.
This
grabbed my attention as I had just given birth at the time. I have been exclusively
breast feeding my baby for six months now. This has meant my child who lives
with me in the rural areas of Bushbuck Ridge has been fed no other forms of
liquidised or solid food. It has also made things easy for me as we live in an
area where shops and places for basic needs are far. As a young mother I decided
to discuss the feeding plan with my mother and she understood, but I live in a
close knit community and as a result everyone tends to be an expert on the
subject of breast-feeding, as they are experts on other subjects too. When my
baby turned one month old I constantly had to explain my reasons for not
feeding him porridge to community members. They think he starves if I don't. Sometimes I couldn’t answer all
their questions so when they ask now, I just tell them it’s my decision and the
baby is healthy.
