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Only 11% of Guyanese babies are breast fed – UNICEF
Representative for the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), Johannes Wedenig, has noted that only 11 percent of children under six months of age are exclusively breastfed in Guyana, as there is a lack of clear policies on micronutrient fortification of foods.
UNICEF Representative, Johannes Wedenig
At the launching of the State of the World’s Children Report 2009, Wedenig explained that while trends in infant and under-five mortality rates are favourable locally, these are still among the highest in the Caribbean region, and important disparities can be observed within the coast and the hinterland.
It was noted that 11 percent of newborns have low birth weight, suggesting high levels of malnutrition and anemia in pregnant women.
He noted that a major gap still exists in accessing the quality of maternal and child care in urban and rural locations.
“Added to this, the sustained survival and development of our children and mothers also depend heavily on creating an environment supportive of mothers and children and their health needs, along with providing a continuum of care, which, if taken seriously, can keep us on the right course,” the UNICEF Representative said.
Wedenig said that everyone is well aware that women and children will continue to die unless focus is placed on issues of delay in deciding to access care, such as getting to the health facility, and delays in the provision of quality care at the health facility.
“We must therefore consolidate the gains we have made in maternal and child health, but also accelerate our progress on the challenges.”
He called for focus to be concentrated on issues such as community-based programmes to improve awareness and knowledge among community members, pregnant women and spouses on danger signs in pregnant women, along with the improvement in the referral system for high-risk cases through innovative methodologies.
Wedenig also urged the improvement in the quality of services at the point of care as they relate to antenatal care, including nutrition and counselling.
He is of the view that, in order to achieve these objectives, the key decision-makers, including Government and communities, donors and international agencies, NGOs and private sector collaborators, will all need to unite their actions and partnerships in support of maternal and newborn health.
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