Aobakwe Selebogo, Rudzani Matshili & Moses Tlamama

Under the theme; "Protect Breastfeeding: A Shared Responsibility", the Gauteng Department of Health commemorates World Breastfeeding Week from 02 – 07 August 2021.
This year's call to action is for fathers, families and communities to support breastfeeding mothers by creating an enabling environment for them to breastfeed their babies.​
Further highlighting this year's drive, Jubilee District Hospital's Chief Dietician Thandi Molomo explained; "Working mothers do not have to choose whether to work or breastfeed, they can do both. The Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) stipulates that employees with infants must be allowed two 30 minutes breaks for every working day to breastfeeding or milk expression for the first 6 months of the child's life."
According to Mamelodi Regional Hospital Obstetrics and Gynaecology Area Manager Naomi Masemola, breast milk acts as a baby's first vaccine as it protects them against many common childhood illnesses and lowers infant mortality rate.
"Breast milk helps to boost the immune system of the infants, it lowers the risks of developing infections such as respiratory tract infections, diabetes allergic diseases and it plays a vital Role in preventing Sudden infant death Syndrome", said Masemola.
Speaking on the impact of COVID-19 and breastfeeding, Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital's Operational Manager for Midwifery, Sr Dikeledi Baloyi dismissed the misinformation around breastfeeding amid the pandemic. 
"COVID 19 positive mothers can still safely breastfeed their babies. There is no reason for a positive mother to stop breastfeeding as transmission has not been detected to date".
 
 
 
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