Breastfeeding mothers have been urged to observe proper nutrition for their babies so as cut on the up-surging cases of child obesity. [Photo|the-star]
The government has raised alarm over rising cases of obesity among children aged five years and below in Kisumu County.
Kisumu County Nutrition Coordinator Rael Mwando said the prevalence of the cases have risen from 2 percent in 2011 to 6 percent in 2014.
The figures, she said are feared to have risen further since the last survey conducted in 2014.
He attributed the increase to early initiation of mixed feeding.
Parents across the county, she said introduce their children to foods rich in energy even before attaining 6 months.
Speaking on Wednesday during a breastfeeding sensitization meeting at a Kisumu hotel, Mwando urged mothers to exclusively breastfeed their children for six months.
Kisumu County Director of Nutritional Services Dr. Mary Obade said some mothers were overfeeding their children from as early as two months leading to obesity.
Some, she said were feeding such children with cow milk which is rich in fats and which doesn’t have adequate nutritional value for infants.
"Feeding a two month old baby with a cup full of porridge is overfeeding and this has contributed to the cases we are talking about," she said.
Ministry of Health Maternal Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) Nutrition and dietetics Unit Programme officer Joyce Atinda said the government has established a legal framework to promote exclusive breastfeeding.
She pointed out that the breast milk substitute act 2012 which regulates breast milk substitutes and the health act 2017 that provides for employers to establish exclusive breast feeding rooms.
The regulations, she said were being enforced adding that employers found contravening the law shall be prosecuted.
"Employers are required to set aside a room for breastfeeding mothers and give them at least an hour per day do breastfeed," she said.