The Ministry of Health, Wellness and Nutrition has officially launched Breastfeeding Awareness Month, placing renewed emphasis on the importance of breastfeeding in supporting mothers, strengthening families and building healthier communities.
The month-long observance is highlighting breastfeeding as an important foundation for lifelong health, while encouraging families, healthcare professionals, employers, communities and policymakers to play a greater role in supporting mothers.
Chief Nutritionist Lisa Hunte stressed that successful breastfeeding should not be viewed as the sole responsibility of the mother.
“Successful breastfeeding is not solely the responsibility of mothers,” Hunte said. “It requires a collective support of families, healthcare providers, employers, communities, and the policymakers.”
She said mothers must have access to reliable information and practical assistance if they are to breastfeed confidently.
“Every mother deserves accurate, evidence-based information about breastfeeding,” Hunte said. “Skill guidance from trained health professionals and a supportive environment that enables her to breastfeed with confidence and dignity.”
Hunte said the Ministry remains committed to creating an environment in which breastfeeding is promoted, protected and supported through a range of initiatives.
“Here in Saint Lucia, the Ministry of Health, Wellness, and Nutrition remains committed to promoting, protecting, and supporting breastfeeding through evidence-based policies, baby-friendly initiatives, healthcare worker training, community education, and partnerships with national and regional stakeholders,” she said.
District Medical Officer Dr Aaron Adjodha also encouraged families and healthcare providers to continue promoting breastfeeding among mothers.
“I just want to encourage us to continue to encourage our patients, our families to breastfeed,” Adjodha said.
Drawing from his own perspective as a father, Adjodha said the benefits of breastfeeding should not be presented solely in terms of the mother and child, arguing that fathers can also benefit from the experience.
“My recommendation as a father is to ensure that in the benefits of breastfeeding that we add that there is benefits for the father as well,” he said.
Adjodha pointed to what he described as emotional, economic and health benefits, as well as benefits to relationships.
“Benefits for the soul, economic benefits, benefits for the relationship, health benefits as well,” he said.
He suggested that breastfeeding can contribute to a father’s emotional wellbeing and strengthen the relationship within the family.
“Because it keeps you at peace, it keeps you in love, it keeps you your mind at a state of emotional stability,” Adjodha said.
Health Minister Moses Jn Baptiste meanwhile applauded Ministry staff for maintaining breastfeeding awareness efforts from year to year.
“I want to applaud the staff for keeping this awareness going year after year,” Jn Baptiste said.
The Minister also stressed that breastfeeding promotion forms part of a wider national approach to health, with good nutrition playing a critical role in preventing illness and supporting overall wellbeing.
“Our government is aware that diet and good nutrition is essential for good health,” he said.
Jn Baptiste said nutrition must therefore remain an integral part of the Government’s broader health initiatives.
“It has to be part of the package of initiatives that must be supported in order for us to have this one health that we’re talking about,” he said.
He emphasized that achieving good health requires more than medical treatment and advice from healthcare professionals.
“That it’s not just the medications and the doctor’s advice and the nurse’s advice and the health aides and so on, but diet and nutrition must really continue to take center stage,” Jn Baptiste said.
The Ministry’s Breastfeeding Awareness Month activities are expected to reinforce the message that breastfeeding is a shared responsibility, requiring sustained support from families, health professionals, workplaces and communities.
As Saint Lucia observes the month, health officials are urging greater awareness and support to help mothers breastfeed with confidence and dignity, while recognizing the wider benefits for children, families and the health of the nation.