Mali mothers advised to give children milk

Mums in Mali have joined together to persuade new mothers to feed their babies only milk in a new drive that could save the lives of hundreds of thousands of babies. Hundreds of mothers formed the Good Mothers Group to tell new mothers in Mali, one of the world’s poorest nations, about the all-milk rule. More than 650 mothers across the West African country are trained to do the same as part of a government child survival programme, said Mali’s Health Ministry. Before the programme started in 2007, many mothers simply didn’t know how best to feed their baby. “Before, women fed their newborns tea and water without knowing the consequences of this practice,” said mothers’ group leader Aïssa Tangara Traoré.

As many as 300,000 babies could be saved every year in West Africa if they were fed only mother’s milk for the first six months rather than formula, tea, water or food as is generally the case, according to United Nations figures. Breastfeeding on its own is proven to be enough to boost a newborn’s defences against malnutrition and infections. But only 20 per cent of mothers in West Africa and Central Africa are doing it, the UN reports. Mali’s neighbouring countries have among the least numbers of mums who breast-feed. In Burkina Faso just six per cent of mums give their baby only breast milt during their first six months. In Niger, that figure is just 4 per cent.

In a 2006, 38 per cent of Mali women said they breastfed exclusively, according to a government survey. The Health Ministry is now working on a new nutrition survey to be completed in 2010. Across the country, which is home to the legendary city of Timbuktu, some 48 maternity centres have been given the seal of approval - as baby-friendly hospitals. Some 26 more hospitals are in the review process for accreditations. The baby-friendly hospitals were launched in 1991 to encourage breastfeeding. One of the requirements for accreditation, which is given by the United Nations Children’s fund (UNICEF), is to form breastfeeding support groups. “As soon as the baby is washed, we ask the mother to start breastfeeding,” said mothers’ group member Oumou Dembélé, 35 and mother of four. “We visit the mothers every day until they leave the maternity ward.” She added that one Sunday of each month, the Good Mothers group organizes a talk at the health centre to educate mothers. “We still have the grandmothers who demand their daughters give babies tea or water,” said Dembélé.

By Hayley Jarvis for SOS Children