Globally, only 44 percent of infants are breastfed exclusively for the first six months of their life, despite the many known benefits of the practice in the child’s growth and health. For babies, breastfeeding can reduce the risk of asthma, obesity, gastrointestinal infections, ear infections, severe lower respiratory disease, type 1 diabetes, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), among others. For mothers, breastfeeding can lower the risk of ovarian cancer, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, and breast cancer, among others. Although statistics show that the rate of six months exclusive breastfeeding in Rwanda is almost double that of the global average, it has fallen sharply. Africa Quantitative Sciences in their report show that exclusive breastfeeding in Rwanda fell from 87 percent in 2015 to 81 percent in 2020. They also show that numerous maternal factors contributed to this decline, such as lack of knowledge on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding, young maternal age, and mothers returning to work after maternity leave, among others. The rate is most likely going to drop even further if nothing is done by the government, private sector, and community at large. Employers should ensure that work policies don’t get in the way of the first six months after a mother has had a baby. Several innovative policies which include remote working and flexi-working schedules have proven efficient. Workplaces should also have a proper mothers' room where they can express their breast milk when needed, and an Early Childhood Development (ECD) centre at work would also be helpful, to ensure breastfeeding mothers work in relative comfort. The government should also ensure that no mother or child is penalized because of unfavourable working conditions. Work policies can be revised to accommodate new mothers. Fathers and other family members can also contribute greatly to encouraging good breastfeeding practice by not burdening the new mother with unpaid care work. This includes taking care of other children, preparing meals for the family, cleaning, and other work that may distract the breastfeeding mother. There is so much that we can all do to support breastfeeding, one of the most effective ways to ensure child health and survival.
