By exclusively breastfeeding infants for the first six months of theirlives, mothers could prevent over 4,000 Vietnamese children from dyingeach year, according to a report released on February 18 by Save theChildren.
The report also stated that 22 percent of all newborndeaths - which account for about half of child deaths in Vietnamcould be prevented if infants were breastfed within their first hour oflife.
According to Pham Sinh Huy, country director of Save theChildren in Vietnam , breastfeeding is the most effective way toprevent the diseases and mal-nutrition that can cause child deaths.
Atleast 30 percent of the children in Vietnam suffer from stuntedgrowth, which breastfeeding can help prevent. Yet less than one fifth ofVietnamese children are breastfed exclusively.
“In order toencourage mothers to breastfeed exclusively, they need to be informedabout the importance of exclusive breastfeeding, baby-friendly hospitalsare a great way to ensure that the doctors and nurses are advising themcorrectly,” said Huy.
The Vietnamese government has supported ababy-friendly hospital initiative for the past two decades, but in 2008,only 59 of the country’s 12,146 hospitals were certified baby-friendly.Many cited reasons such as inadequate financial support and a lack ofincentives for participation.
In 2012, the government also passed legislation to provide mothers with six months of maternity leave.-VNA
The report also stated that 22 percent of all newborndeaths - which account for about half of child deaths in Vietnamcould be prevented if infants were breastfed within their first hour oflife.
According to Pham Sinh Huy, country director of Save theChildren in Vietnam , breastfeeding is the most effective way toprevent the diseases and mal-nutrition that can cause child deaths.
Atleast 30 percent of the children in Vietnam suffer from stuntedgrowth, which breastfeeding can help prevent. Yet less than one fifth ofVietnamese children are breastfed exclusively.
“In order toencourage mothers to breastfeed exclusively, they need to be informedabout the importance of exclusive breastfeeding, baby-friendly hospitalsare a great way to ensure that the doctors and nurses are advising themcorrectly,” said Huy.
The Vietnamese government has supported ababy-friendly hospital initiative for the past two decades, but in 2008,only 59 of the country’s 12,146 hospitals were certified baby-friendly.Many cited reasons such as inadequate financial support and a lack ofincentives for participation.
In 2012, the government also passed legislation to provide mothers with six months of maternity leave.-VNA
