Mothers in Garissa have been urged to breastfeed their babies in order to improve the health of their young ones.

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Garissa County joined the rest of the world in commemorating the World Breastfeeding Week by informing women in the county on the importance of breastfeeding.

Fafi Sub County Medical Officer of Health (MoH) Issak Mohamed said babies should be breastfed exclusively for the first six months.

Speaking at Bura Sub County Hospital to women, Mohamed said breastfeeding babies in the first six months helps in preventing sickness and stunted growth among children.

“A child that has been breastfed for up to two years develops extremely well and is very intelligent. Mothers should exclusively breastfeed their babies, starting within one hour after birth until a baby is at least six months old,” said Mohamed as quoted by Garissa County Government Press Unit on Facebook.

County Director of Nutrition, Shamat Yusuf said after six months, mothers should continue breastfeeding their babies supplementing with complementary feeds until the baby is two years and beyond for optimal growth and development and also prevent unnecessary death of babies.

The Terre Des Hommes (TDH) representative, Mohamud Osman said breastfeeding has saved children’s lives and also helped in improving the health of mothers and children.

Osman said an estimated 20,000 maternal deaths could be prevented each year due to breast cancer if there was increased breastfeeding.

“Breastfeeding decreased the risk of mothers developing breast cancer, ovarian cancer, type two diabetes, and heart disease,” he added.