The medical superintendent (MS) of Kiambu District Hospital has urged mothers to exclusively breastfeed their babies for the first six months before weaning them.
Speaking from his office today, Dr James Kariuki said that breastfeeding is very important for the growth and development of a baby as it keeps it healthy since breast milk supplies all the necessary nutrients to the infant in their right proportions.
He said that breast milk helps in protecting the infant against diseases, allergies, infections as well as obesity and the babies tend to have healthy weights as they grow.
He added that breast milk changes in composition and volume according to the age of the baby hence promotes healthy growth and is the best food for the infant.
The MS said that breast milk helps a baby have easy digestion and hence avoid cases of constipation and diarrhea which greatly affects them.
He added that only mothers who are HIV positive are the only ones who are recommended to avoid breastfeeding their babies as they may transmit the virus to them.
He said that the HIV positive mothers are advised to give their babies replacement feeds which involve commercial infant formula and animal milk that is home-modified by being boiled and diluted with water, sugar and micro-nutrients.
Dr Kariuki said that most of the modern generation mothers have turned mostly to their careers and are failing to breastfeed their children leaving them prone to diseases and infections as their immune system is weak.
He urged mothers to put their babies’ welfare first by breastfeeding them exclusively for the required time rather than introducing food to them at an early age.