Paulina Quintao – More mothers chose to breastfeed their babies in 2013 than in 2010, Ministry of Health data shows.

Alola Foundation executive director Alzira Reis said the research showed significant progress as a result of Alola's efforts to promote breastfeeding in the districts.

Speaking at Alola Foundation's 13 anniversary celebrations, Reis said the data showed that in 2013, 63.3 per cent of mothers exclusively breastfed their babies under the age of six months, up from 52 per cent in 2010.

In 2010, Alola Foundation started a campaign to raise awareness of the health benefits of breastfeeding for babies.

Reis said exclusively breastfeeding for the first six months of a child's life lowered risk of malnutrition. Formula could cause stomach aches for some children, she said.

Alola worked in conjunction with the Ministry of Health on the awareness campaign, passing on information about breastfeeding to mothers in maternity wards.

Reis said the Alola Foundation had made great progress in health, education and advocacy sectors and had helped to strengthen the economy, though securing funding to implement programs was an ongoing struggle.

Mother Emelita Guterres da Cruz urged government institutions to offer creches for use by nursing mothers to allow staff to breastfeed their children at work.

She said creches could help mothers exclusively breastfeed their children under six months and would help combat infant malnutrition. Da Cruz said such facilities would allow women to participate better in the workforce in careers in everything from policing to business

Dr Aniceto Barreto warned parents of potential health risks including diarrhea to babies fed formula. Parents should try to avoid feeding formula to children under four months, he said.

Source: http://www.thediliweekly.com/en/news/capital/12660-breastfeeding-rates-rise