World Breastfeeding Week Celebration in Tajikistan

Every day during world breastfeeding week we organized events in the districts in South Tajikistan to promote breastfeeding. Tursunzoda, Shahrinav, Faizobod, Rudaki, Hamadoni, Vose: every day, in one of these districts, a celebratory event was organized, gathering communities members, health workers, local authorities, women and children.

CELEBRATING MOTHER’S MILK. “Mothers’ milk is strength, health, energy and quietness for the baby. The best food for baby is mother’s milk”, mentioned a poem performed by a young lady, opening the event held in Rudaki district. During the events, children and mothers provided poems, songs, play-roles, and drawings to spread the message on the importance of breastfeeding. Questions games raised awareness on specific aspects of breastfeeding. “We need to encourage exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months, following the baby request, and encourage breastfeeding until the baby is two years old” said a nurse trained by Save the Children, “We need to support mothers who are breastfeeding with quality food and rest to create a quiet but encouraging environment around them”.

TACKLING FALSE BELIEFS. “If the baby cries is not because your milk is not good or not enough” a mother who participated to Save the Children trainings said, “Babies cry either because they are sick or they are hungry. Make sure he/she is fine and then breastfeed him/her. You don’t have to wait 3 hours to give the breast to your child”.    

ROLE-PLAYS DISPLAY MOST FREQUENT MISCONCEPTIONS. A new mother is desperate because her first new-born child is crying days and nights. Her husband is in Russia and cannot help. She does not trust the mother-in-law and she wants money to buy formula. The intervention of a nurse trained by Save the Children convinces her on the importance of breastfeeding every time that the baby requires, and supports her on correct practices for breastfeeding.

RELIGIOUS LEADERS ARE INVOLVED. To create support among men towards breastfeeding mothers, Save the Children involved religious leaders in target communities: “Based on Islam, breastfeeding is very important. As written in the Quran, we recommend the child to respect mothers because for 9 months they carried them and then they breastfeed them for two years”, said Mr. Hoji Zainullo, religious leader in the community during his speech in Rudaki district.   

Empowering women through teaching correct practices on breastfeeding, creating a supportive environment in the family, linking communities with trained health workers are the successful methodologies that Save the Children is implementing to increase awareness on breastfeeding, thus to improve the living and health conditions of children in Tajikistan.