BY TANDZILE DLAMINI
MBABANE – The Ministry of Health officially launched the 2025 World Breastfeeding Week commemoration on today, 4 August, at Happy Valley Hotel, where Minister for Health Mduduzi Matsebula called on all sectors to prioritise breastfeeding and build sustainable support systems for mothers across Eswatini.
The launch was hosted through the Eswatini National Nutrition Council in partnership with UNICEF Eswatini and World Vision Eswatini, the event gathered healthcare workers, development partners, civil society, and private sector representatives under the global theme: “Prioritise Breastfeeding – Create Sustainable Support Systems.”
Minister Matsebula emphasised that breastfeeding is more than a feeding decision,it is a life-saving act that protects the health of both mother and child. He described it as the very first investment in a child’s life and a proven strategy to reduce illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease later in life.
The Minister highlighted the critical importance of the first 1000 days, from conception to two years, as a window of opportunity to set a child on a healthy path. He called for integrated action across healthcare, workplaces, families, and government to ensure mothers feel supported to breastfeed optimally.
As part of the launch, the Tzu Chi Foundation donated 150 breastfeeding pillows, and Lush Eswatini pledged additional support to provide more pillows for nursing mothers. These contributions were welcomed as part of the effort to create a breastfeeding-friendly Eswatini.
Currently, Eswatini’s exclusive breastfeeding rate for infants aged 0 to 5 months stands at 63.8%, reflecting encouraging progress toward global nutrition goals. However, mixed feeding practices,such as introducing soft porridge too early,remain common and can interfere with exclusive breastfeeding.
To address these challenges, the Ministry of Health is implementing targeted interventions like the Vertical Transmission Prevention Program, which supports safe breastfeeding among HIV-positive mothers while preventing mother-to-child transmission of the virus. This is especially critical in Eswatini, where 41.1% of pregnant women are living with HIV.
Minister Matsebula laid out what sustainable breastfeeding support should look like in practice:
- In the health system, training more nurses, midwives, and community health workers to provide consistent, skilled breastfeeding support throughout the mother’s journey.
- In the workplace, creating environments that accommodate nursing mothers through private spaces, flexible hours, and progressive policies.
- In families and communities, promoting a culture where breastfeeding is embraced and supported by fathers, relatives, and neighbours.
- At national level, strengthening breastfeeding-friendly policies and investing resources to make support systems long-lasting and effective.
He also reaffirmed Eswatini’s commitment to the Nutrition Action Framework, which sets out goals to improve exclusive breastfeeding rates and reduce all forms of malnutrition by 2030 through a multisectoral approach.“This week is a reminder,” said Matsebula, “that supporting breastfeeding is not only about good health today, but about building a healthier and more prosperous Eswatini for generations to come.”
World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated globally from 1 to 7 August each year, encouraging collective action to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding as a vital part of sustainable development.
(Courtesy Pics)
