Minister at National Breastfeeding Week seminar:

‘Mother’s milk, the best’

Nadira GUNATHILLEKE

“About a century ago, mothers did not require education on breastfeeding, but, the situation is different today. Mothers have to be educated on the value of breastfeeding because of the changes taking place in the world, said Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena.

The minister said infant formula producers are misleading mothers by lying to them about the value of infant milk powder.

Minister Sirisena was speaking at a seminar at the National Blood Centre to mark National Breastfeeding Week.

Minister Sirisena said mother’s milk is the best. There is no other milk in the world that can beat or match the quality and nutrition level that breast milk (Mother’s milk) offers. He said the percentage of breastfeeding in Sri Lanka is 75.6 percent and measures will be taken to increase this amount to 100 percent.

‘Breast milk has been recognized as an infants right under the Mahinda Chinthana programme.

Dr. Ms. Anoma Jayatilleke pointed out that breastfeeding protects mothers from three main diseases: breast cancer (reduces the possibility of getting cancer by 39 percent), ovarian cancer (by 16 percent) and diabetes (by 14 percent).

The immunity received by the infant through breast milk lasts for ever.

No other milk can match the nutrients provided by breast milk.