The Ministry of Health in partnership with the other stakeholders has urged the Ministry for Gender and Labour to consider the six months of maternity leave for all working and breastfeeding mothers in Uganda in order to be able to attend to their newborn children.  

This was addressed at the imperial royal hotel as the Ministry of Health launched breastfeeding week aimed at enabling breastfeeding to make a difference for working parents. This launch was presided over by Hon. Dr. Charles Ayume chairperson of the Parliamentary Health Committee, who represented the speaker of parliament hon Among Annita Annet.

The world health organization and the united nations international children’s emergency fund says breastfeeding all babies for the first two years would save the lives of more than 820,000 children under the age of five annually. 

Addressing the press in the commemoration of world breastfeeding week today, the chief guest Dr Charles Ayume, chairperson of the Parliamentary Health Committee said breastfeeding is important for babies; he has commended the government in Uganda to support breastfeeding mothers in order to improve health for the well-being of the children to fight malnutrition.

Under section act 56 of the employment act, all mothers are entitled to maternity leave for three months after delivery, fathers are also entitled to paternity leave of not less than four working days after delivery. Dr. Charles Ayume says that as the high executive body these are committed to advocating for policies that protect and promote breastfeeding.

Dr Daniel Kyabayinze a Director, Public Health at the Ministry of Health Uganda urged all parents to be part of advocating exclusive breastfeeding of their children without additions of other kinds of milk in the first hour after birth in order to create a bond between child and mother.

However, he highlighted 2 key policies that the Ministry of Health have implemented when it comes to breastfeeding in mothers.

elizabeth Kiboneka. consultant paediatrician at the private practice said that about 2 years ago many children would be admitted to hospitals due to the increase of malnutrition still update due to lack of breastfeeding from their working mothers who struggle to breastfeed their children.

it is said that most mothers have no enough knowledge of the importance of breastfeeding, these have urged all parents to continue to invest more in breastfeeding for the betterment of their children. The ceremony will be closed on 8th August 2023 in the Kakumiro district.