Breastfeeding education and support took centre stage at the Vieux Fort Wellness Centre as mothers and expectant mothers from the community and surrounding areas participated in a workshop aimed at strengthening their knowledge and confidence in infant and young child feeding.
The initiative formed part of activities marking Breastfeeding Awareness Month under the theme, “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works.” It is part of wider efforts to promote, protect and support breastfeeding within communities.
Community Health Nurse Junette Joseph said the workshop was designed to give expectant mothers practical information and support to help them begin and continue breastfeeding successfully.
“The aim of the workshop is to provide information and also support for expectant mothers to enable them to initiate and maintain breastfeeding successfully knowing all the wonderful benefits of breastfeeding,” Joseph said.
Joseph said the session was structured to encourage participation rather than simply provide mothers with information through presentations.
“The workshop will take the format of a very interactive session,” she said.
Participants were given the opportunity to develop practical skills, including techniques for positioning their babies and ensuring proper attachment during breastfeeding.
“The mothers will have hands-on experience in terms of learning how to position the baby properly, learning how to get the baby to latch onto the nipple properly also,” Joseph explained.
The workshop also included demonstrations and educational materials which participants could take home.
“They will be able to have some written demonstration and also leave with some brochures,” Joseph said.
A question-and-answer segment was also incorporated into the programme, allowing mothers to raise concerns and seek clarification on breastfeeding.
“We also have gifts available. We have a question and answer segment and also debunking all the myths of breastfeeding,” Joseph added.
The organisers said providing accurate information and practical support remains important in helping mothers make informed decisions and feel more confident about breastfeeding.
The Vieux Fort initiative therefore combined education, practical demonstrations and open discussion, with the aim of ensuring mothers leave with greater knowledge and skills to support successful breastfeeding from the earliest stages of their children’s lives.