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Fight against malnutrition remains unchanged in Mozambique

Xinhua, August 1, 2016 Adjust font size:

Health authorities in Mozambique admitted on Monday in Maputo that the fight against malnutrition in the country is getting much harder, with a target established by the authorities to bring down the percentage from the current 43 percent to 20 percent by 2020.

The current malnutrition rate hasn't changed since 2011 leaving a dramatic reality in the country where one in every two children under the age of 5 is malnourished.

"There are a number of factors that contribute to this reality, so all of us are called for action. We must also understand that change of habits and attitudes doesn't happen overnight, they need some time to happen," said Marla Amaro, head of the national nutritious program.

The official reiterated that breastfeeding is one of the solutions to bring down the number of malnourished children and eventually help the authorities reach the target established for the five-year governance plan.

"Breastfeeding is the best gift a mother can give to her child, it prevents against infections. Children most of the time can get a number of complications such as flu, diarrhea, earache but this is preventable if mothers feed their children with breast milk, particularly if they do that in the first 6 months," added Amaro.

As the world celebrates breastfeeding week, Mozambican authorities launched a number of campaigns that will encourage parents especially mothers to feed their babies with breast milk.

Malnutrition hits mostly the northern region of Mozambique particularly the provinces of Nampula and Zambezia, most populated regions of the country.

However, many mothers complained that they find it hard to give their babies with breast milk in the first 6 months because of their jobs and lack of understanding by the employers. Moreover, Mozambican labor law only grants two months of maternity leave.

Last year statistics indicated that more than 50 percent of mothers did not follow the recommendations by the health authorities for special breastfeeding in the first 6 months. Endit