Puan Supports Mothers To Give Exclusive Breastfeeding In World Breastfeeding Week

Chairperson of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani (Photo from DPR Doc)

JAKARTA - In commemoration of World Breastfeeding Week 2022, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, invites the entire community to support mothers in providing exclusive breastfeeding to their children. This is important to reduce stunting or chronic malnutrition in Indonesia.

"I invite all Indonesian people to support mothers so that they can breastfeed from an early age, exclusively, and continuously in order to reduce stunting rates in children, especially at the moment of World Breastfeeding Week 2022," said Puan in her statement, Wednesday, August 3.

World Breastfeeding Week, which starts from August 1 to 7, 2022, focuses on strengthening the capacity of individuals to protect, promote and support breastfeeding at all levels of society. Puan reminded that early initiation of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding for six months provide protection against gastrointestinal infections and the nutritional content needed to prevent stunting.

“Optimal breastfeeding practices are the key to reducing stunting in children under the age of five. Of course, this needs to be optimized in order to achieve global and national targets in reducing stunting by 40 percent," continued Puan.

The theme for World Breastfeeding Week 2022 is that breastfeeding is the key in determining sustainable development strategies after the COVID-19 pandemic.

"In particular, I appreciate the mothers and all Indonesian families who continue to struggle to be able to carry out Early Initiation of Breastfeeding (IMD) and provide breast milk for infants and children amid the threat of COVID-19 transmission," said Puan.

The former Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture also invited all elements of the nation to make World Breastfeeding Week a success by supporting mothers to give breast milk to their children. Puan said, breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to protect the health of children and mothers.

"Continuing breastfeeding after six months to two years along with complementary feeding is the most adequate and safest way to prevent growth disorders and ensure cognitive development in this critical phase of life," said the mother of two.

Puan calls on stakeholders and all Indonesian society to maintain the protection, promotion, and support for breastfeeding. This is because breastfeeding has been proven to be a strategic step that can save lives and become the foundation for a healthy, intelligent, and productive society.

"The DPR itself continues to provide support so that children get their right to exclusive breastfeeding so they can have good growth and development, including through the Draft Law on Maternal and Child Welfare (RUU KIA)," said Puan.

In Article 9 of the MCH Bill, there are rules that ensure every child has the right to exclusive breastfeeding for six months. Puan said that the DPR's proposal to increase the maternity leave of working mothers from 3 to 6 months was also aimed at ensuring that children get exclusive breastfeeding.

"This 6-month leave rule is expected so that mothers can provide exclusive breastfeeding to support children as the nation's next generation to have good growth and development so that they can become superior human resources," he said.

Puan added that the MCH Bill was also one of the efforts to overcome the stunting problem in Indonesia. Moreover, Indonesia is currently ranked 5th in the world where the stunting rate is still high.

“DPR initiated the MCH Bill with the hope that Indonesian children can become the golden generation that can advance this nation. Therefore, we hope for the support of all parties," said Puan.

Regarding breastfeeding itself, in Indonesia, there was a downward trend during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Basic Health Research (RISKESDAS) data in 2021, at least 52.5% or only half of the 2.3 million babies aged less than six months who are exclusively breastfed in Indonesia.

In addition, breastfeeding counseling services have become much more difficult for Indonesians to access during the COVID-19 pandemic. A national survey conducted by the Ministry of Health in 2021 found that less than 50 percent of mothers and caregivers of children under two years old received breastfeeding counseling services during the pandemic.

The DPR also encourages all policymakers to ensure the availability of breastfeeding counseling services for all mothers and caregivers for children under two years old, both face-to-face and through digital platforms in accordance with the latest technological developments.

"We also ask the government to strengthen capacity in order to provide quality breastfeeding counseling services and gather evidence to encourage very firm action against inappropriate marketing of breast milk substitutes," said Puan.

"Keep in mind, breastfeeding not only guarantees health but can also make children have higher intelligence. So support for mothers so that they can give breast milk to their children must receive maximum support," continued the grandson of the Proclaimer of the Republic of Indonesia Bung Karno.