Last year, 187 babies under six months died not only from malnutrition or starvation, but also from not being well breastfed.
This was revealed by Nutrition Council officer Tholakele Mhlanga at the commemoration of World Breastfeeding Week at Hosea Inkhundla.
Mhlanga said the deaths of babies under six months were mainly due to not being breastfed properly. She explained that some mothers were not breastfeeding their children correctly, which meant the babies did not fully benefit from breast milk.
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She was making a presentation during the ceremony organised by Baphalali Eswatini Red Cross Society and its partners. The guest speaker was Minister of Health Mduduzi Matsebula, represented by Dr Adman Shabangu.
Mhlanga stressed the importance of breastfeeding babies exclusively for the first six months. She highlighted that proper positioning was critical for babies to enjoy sufficient milk.
Announcing the figures contained in the 2024 report, Mhlanga said the deaths could have been prevented if the babies had been well breastfed.
“In the report, 187 babies died because they were not well breastfed. The deaths are mainly caused by babies not being fully breastfed for six months. Other mothers fail to hold the babies properly when breastfeeding them. This should not be taken lightly, as the baby has to be well handled and positioned to suck the milk well and enjoy it,” said Mhlanga, who also demonstrated correct breastfeeding techniques.
Bongani Mdluli, Growth Monitoring Officer in the Ministry of Health, added that mothers needed support from fathers during breastfeeding.
“It should not be the mother alone who ensures the baby grows—fathers also have a role to play. For a baby to be brought on earth, two people are part of the process. Therefore, even after the baby is born, both parents must support the child. The mother should not walk this journey alone—let the father also be there during breastfeeding,” said Mdluli.
‘Breastfeeding needs to be prioritised’
Breastfeeding remains one of the most critical strategies for preventing diseases and must be prioritised.
Minister of Health Mduduzi Matsebula, represented by Dr Adman Shabangu, said breastfeeding also builds a healthy nation. He added that for babies, breast milk was the primary shield against diseases.
The localised theme for this year was “Prioritise Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support System.”
“Breastfeeding is not just a personal choice or a matter of convenience, but a critical strategy for disease prevention. It remains a cornerstone of a healthy society. Milk from the breast is a living substance, designed by nature to meet the nutritional and developmental needs of the baby,” said Matsebula.
He added that both the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF strongly supported breastfeeding because of its proven benefits in shaping a healthy society.
“Breastfed babies have a much lower chance of falling ill. This means healthier children, fewer sick days for parents, and less strain on our healthcare system,” he said.
Also attending the event were Shiselweni Regional Health Administrator Fikile Bulunga, Red Cross Society Secretary General Danger Nhlabatsi, and Shiselweni Regional Administrator’s Office representative Dudu Mbhele.
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