Monrovia, 14 August 2023 - In celebration of Liberia's observance of World Breastfeeding Week, the Vice President of the Republic of Liberia Chief Dr. Jewel Howard Taylor who is also Liberia’s WHO 75 Health Champion is advocating for enhanced support for breastfeeding mothers across the nation. The week-long event, which commenced on August 14, and extends until August 19, 2023, is focused on promoting breastfeeding within workplaces to bolster child survival.

Addressing the significance of this year's World Breastfeeding Week theme, "Let's make breastfeeding at work, work," Her Excellency, Chief Dr. Taylor underlined the critical nature of maintaining a balance between nurturing infants and pursuing careers. "Women should not be given the option to either choose between breastfeeding their babies and keeping their jobs. It is possible to harmonize both aspects for the betterment of our society," said Vice President Taylor.

Madam Vice President Dr. Taylor, a staunch advocate for maternal and child health, affirmed the importance of breastfeeding as a fundamental step toward ensuring the well-being of both mothers and infants. " This simple act of breastfeeding babies, yields life-long health benefits for both infants and their mothers. The nutrients and immunity provided through breastfeeding during the first six months are indispensable for optimal growth and development," she stated.

Highlighting the critical role of breast milk in preventing life-threatening illnesses, such as pneumonia and diarrhea, Vice President Taylor reiterated the scientific evidence supporting the benefits of breastfeeding. "It is crucial to understand that breastfeeding contributes to brain development and immunity, and it protects babies from stunting and other ailments," she noted.

Vice President Taylor expressed concern over current statistics indicating that over 50 percent of mothers globally do not breastfeed their babies, contributing to malnutrition and, in many cases, untimely deaths of under- five children. She emphasized, " Breastfeeding not only helps prevent diarrhea and pneumonia, which are life-threatening illnesses to children under five, but it also helps reduce mothers’ risk of ovarian and breast cancer."

The Vice President Dr. Taylor highlighted that according to Liberia’s current laws, maternity leave stands at three months. Drawing from her personal experience, she encouraged mothers to go beyond the ordinary to ensure their babies receive adequate nutrition during the crucial initial months.  “I was a student at the University of Liberia. So, what I used to do is, I would get up in the morning and squeezed six to seven bottles of breast milk and leave them.” she stated that she breastfed her son for a whole year and this was based on pieces of advice from her mother, who was a nurse. She emphasized that the breast milk has all the nutrients that the child needs to develop fully.

Vice President Taylor stressed the importance of advocacy and education to dispel misconceptions surrounding breastfeeding. She called for the involvement of community health workers to disseminate accurate information and to promote behavioral change at the grassroots level. "We must engage in extensive advocacy, training, and information-sharing to address mothers' perceptions about breastfeeding and foster positive change," she emphasized. She stressed the need for additional endeavors to alter certain perceptions about breastfeeding held by women. Revealing that some women decide early in their pregnancies not to breastfeed due to concerns about their breast appearance, Vice President Taylor stated, "When you are talking about having a baby, it goes beyond you, because you are now bringing a whole new life to bear and it is totally impossible to worry about yourself, that baby becomes a priority. So, if you don’t want your breasts to drop, don’t have any children."

As Liberia joins the global community in celebrating World Breastfeeding Week, Vice President Taylor called on all stakeholders to support the government's initiatives aimed at promoting early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding. In conclusion she called on stake holders to make breastfeeding a priority, "Let us unite to prioritize breastfeeding as a means to secure the health and future of our children and mothers. Through collaborative efforts, we can create an environment where breastfeeding at work truly works, benefiting families, employers, and society as a whole."

In the last decade, countries like Cote d'Ivoire, the Marshall Islands, the Philippines, Somalia, and Viet Nam have achieved significant increases in breastfeeding rates, illustrating that progress is attainable through the protection, promotion, and support of breastfeeding. Research indicates that although breastfeeding rates notably decline for women upon their return to work, this adverse effect can be counteracted by workplaces facilitating ongoing breastfeeding for mothers. Family-friendly workplace policies, encompassing features such as paid maternity leave, breastfeeding breaks, and designated spaces for breastfeeding or expressing milk, foster an environment that benefits not only employed women and their families, but also employers. These policies yield economic dividends by curbing maternity-related absences, enhancing the retention of female staff, and mitigating the expenses linked to hiring and training new personnel. Supportive workplaces play a crucial role in striving for the global 2030 exclusive breastfeeding target of 70 percent. Globally, the world commemorates World Breastfeeding Week from August 1st to 7th each year.