Petro was born at Tosamaganga Hospital. Delivery occurred by natural means, but the baby needed oxygen therapy. So, he was admitted to the neonatology ward, where he received all necessary treatment. Due to breathing difficulties, during the early days of hospitalisation, the baby was not able to be breastfed. On the fourth day, Petro got better and, as customary in the ward, the medical staff asked the mother to breastfeed Petro and give him her milk. However, only then the woman told them that she was never even able to breastfeed her previous children, who passed away within a few months of birth. Given the exceptional situation, they decided to help the mother and her baby, offering them formula. Hospitalised children, in fact, receive breast milk as soon as possible and mothers are educated by local staff on the importance of breastfeeding, for themselves and for their baby. All over the world, particularly in low-to-middle income countries such as
Tanzania, breast milk is an essential food, not only because of its singular nutritional properties, but also for its financial sustainability. Not being able to guarantee it puts the lives of the most fragile at risk, as the story of Petro’s two little brothers shows. In Tanzania, only 59% of infants under six months are exclusively breastfed. Sometimes mothers tend to feed babies too early with solid foods that can cause permanent damage at such an early age. CUAMM’s commitment to awareness raising activities on the topic of breastfeeding is ongoing. With the support of professionals trained in health centres and through home visits, efforts are made to educate about proper nutrition for one’s baby, which always begins with breast milk. Petro is now 4 months old, he is growing and is doing well. His mother comes back regularly to Tosamaganga Hospital for check-ups and CUAMM staff continues to support the family. The story of this child emphasizes the need, at a global level, to protect and promote breastfeeding, the foundation for an equal and sustainable development.
