Only 40% of women breastfeed children

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National advisor on NCDs and head of the Wellness Centre Dr Isimeli Tukana says of the 6000 that die annually in Fiji, 5000 of thoe die from NCDs. Picture: FELIX CHAUDHARY/FT FILE

ONLY 40 per cent of women in the country breastfeed their babies and this needs to increase to at least 80 per cent, says the Health Ministry’s national adviser for NCDs and head of the Wellness Centre Dr Isimeli Tukana.

“Somehow Fijians prefer to buy cows milk and formula milk, which is very expensive at $50 a tin, instead of breastfeeding their children,” he said.

He made the comment while addressing more than 150 participants at the Improving Access to Holistic Health Care Services for People Living with NCDs at FRIEND Fiji’s headquarters at Tuvu near Lautoka, this week.

“That is a huge problem, we have to shift mothers back to breastfeeding.”

Dr Tukana said by increasing breastfeeding and educating expectant mothers to make healthier eating choices, the NCDs crisis in Fiji could be addressed.

“We in primary health care believe that maternal and child health is the key to solving the NCD problem in this country.

“We can solve communicable diseases through maternal and child health and we will solve NCDs in the same manner.

“The way we are moving now is very late, it is very hard to change the eating behaviour in adults so I am focusing on expectant women.”
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