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It is with great pleasure that I welcome today's beautiful event of the Pancyprian Breastfeeding Association "Gift of Life", which is part of the events of the "Breastfeeding Promotion Month 2023", in Cyprus.
"Encouraging Breastfeeding: Making a difference for working parents". Under this motto, all stakeholders, the family, society, the state, each from their own perspective, are invited to play their crucial role in empowering mothers and in creating and maintaining a breastfeeding-friendly climate in working life. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), through this year's theme, the positive impact of a supportive and friendly work environment for both breastfeeding working mothers and employers is expected to be highlighted.
Research shows that the positive impact of supporting breastfeeding at work is not limited to mothers and their families. Accommodations for working mothers result in reduced stress, less absenteeism from work, greater workforce commitment and fewer staff turnover.
Protecting and supporting breastfeeding is an important public health priority for the Ministry of Health. We aim to implement the National Policy and create an infant-friendly environment in maternity hospitals, workplaces, public places and the community in general.
To support this effort, Cypriot legislation provides for unimpeded access to breastfeeding in public places, while at work, employers must provide facilities for breastfeeding mothers who wish to breastfeed or store their milk.
The Ministry of Health, for its part, and in cooperation with the National Breastfeeding Committee, is promoting legislation for the creation of special breastfeeding areas/rooms at work. In addition, the promoted new draft regulations have been strengthened with provisions, for the creation of special breastfeeding rooms also in public places where the general public is served and/or circulated.
It is imperative now, after the pandemic, to regroup and take more active action again. The data before us in Cyprus show that the pandemic has affected breastfeeding rates. In particular, the most recent statistical data from the Health Monitoring Unit of the Ministry of Health, covering all maternity hospitals in the country, show that in the first 48 hours after childbirth, the majority of mothers intended to breastfeed. Only a very small percentage of mothers, around 11%, did not breastfeed at all while the remaining 89% had breastfed their baby. However, of the total number of mothers who breastfed, the rate of exclusive breastfeeding, as recommended by the World Health Organization, was only 28%, lower than in previous years.
Friends,
The data before us call for vigilance and continued action. The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the National Breastfeeding Committee, will continue to be a coordinating link in strengthening the warm chain of promotion and support for breastfeeding, breastfeeding mothers and working breastfeeding mothers.
With these few words I close my intervention and wish you every success in the goals you have set. The Ministry of Health and I personally will continue our efforts so that every child born in our country has the possibility and opportunities to enjoy the right to breastfeeding.
Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
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