http://www.thenational.com.pg/022409/nation31.php
By ELIZABETH MIAE in Madang
BREASTFEEDING is a major problem in the country, and much of this problem stems from widespread misunderstanding of its importance to the community.
This is the concern that Madang provincial health adviser Marcus Kachau discussed after he officially opened the communication for behavioural impact (COMBI) workshop that is underway in Madang.
Mr Kachau expressed concern that breastfeeding and malnutrition were a problem in PNG, particularly in the Momase region.
He said many mothers in urban and rural areas were now introduced to artificial feeding, but they misunderstood the importance of breastfeeding.
Some mothers think that artificial feeding is equivalent to exclusive breastfeeding, he said.
He told the workshop that the provincial government would work in partnership with relevant agencies and non-Government organisations to implement policies on breastfeeding.
We are the captains of implementing these policies, he said.
Whatever the policy says, well try to improve breastfeeding in the country.
Mr Kachau added that youths needed to be educated on family planning before they thought about starting a family.
World Health Organisation adviser for child and maternal health Dr Norbert Rehlis, attending the COMBI workshop, referred to the World Banks survey in funding for health programmes, stating that breastfeeding was more cost effective than immunisation.
Breastfeeding was an important topic that needed attention, Dr Rehlis said.
The COMBI workshop is the second to be held in the country involving public health specialists and representatives from the NGOs and the media.
The workshop is organised by the WHO, Unicef and the National Department of Health.
It is facilitated by Dr Everold N. Hosein, an expert in communication planning with the WHO and who is based in New York, United States.
The COMBI is based on the private sector approach of integrated marketing communication that offers a dynamic approach to achieving behavioural results in health and social development.
Participants will develop skills while applying a series of steps to design a detailed communication plan regarding behavioural impact for their breastfeeding programmes in their provinces.
