BUJUMBURA November 27th (ABP) – The National Integrated Program for Food and Nutrition (PRONIANUT) held a media workshop on breastfeeding at the National Institute of Public Health (INSP) on Tuesday, a check by ABP revealed.

According to the director of PRONIANUT, Burundi is celebrating the World Breastfeeding Week this Friday November 29th. The activities will be held at the Ngozi hospital (north) under the theme “Empower parents, facilitate breastfeeding”. The aim was to sensitize media professionals to broadcast messages on the correct breastfeeding of children from birth to at least 2 years of age and to make mothers aware of good breastfeeding practices, the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding for the child, mother, family and society. Media professionals are being asked to become more involved in promoting breastfeeding and complementary foods for infants.

Note that Burundi, especially in rural areas, is one of the countries with good breastfeeding indicators. On average, it has an early breastfeeding initiation rate of 85%, while the exclusive breastfeeding rate is 86%. It is worth recalling that the last celebration of breastfeeding health week in Burundi dates back to 2014, since financial means were therefore lacking to organize related activities.