The 37 Military Hospital Nutrition Department of Public Health has organised a lecture to mark the end of World Breastfeeding Month on Tuesday 3 September 2024 at the Burma Hall in Burma Camp.

The sensitisation, which was aimed at educating women, especially service personnel, on the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding for both mother and child, was under the theme ‘Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All’.

The Guest of Honour, Gender Advisor to the Chief of the Army Staff, Colonel Sledge Alando, acknowledged that the Ghana Armed Forces have fostered an environment conducive to breastfeeding, enabling nursing mothers in the service to care for their children. She also encouraged men to support their wives in nurturing their children.

The Gender Policy Advisor to the Chief of the Defence Staff, Group Captain Theodora Agornyo, emphasised the importance of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, encouraging mothers to continue breastfeeding for up to two years or beyond if possible. She highlighted that breastfeeding is critical for a child’s physical, physiological, and overall development, and urged mothers to seek appropriate medical care to ensure both their health and that of their babies.

The Senior Nutrition Officer at the 37 Military Hospital, Flight Lieutenant Patricia Adams, delivered a PowerPoint presentation outlining the stages of breastfeeding, from colostrum to mature milk. She explained that breastmilk can be expressed and stored and emphasised that it contains all the essential nutrients necessary for a baby’s growth.