Unicef nutrition officer Janet Ntwiga during the interview in Nairobi. [Benard Orwongo, Standard]
Only six in 10 babies born in Kenya are breastfed within the first hour of life despite nearly nine in 10 deliveries taking place under the care of skilled health workers, exposing thousands of newborns to a higher risk of preventable illness and death.
Health experts say the delay is particularly worrying because the first hour after birth is a critical window for survival. Early breastfeeding provides colostrum—the nutrient-rich first milk that acts as a baby’s first vaccine—helping protect newborns against life-threatening infections during the first days of life, when the risk of death is highest.
Experts say more than three-quarters of newborn deaths occur within the first seven days of life, with the highest concentration in the first 24 to 48 hours.
Studies show that many of the deaths can be prevented through timely initiation of breastfeeding.
The data on breastfeeding was released over the weekend as Kenya joined the rest of the world to mark World Breastfeeding Week, with the Ministry of Health, Unicef and World Health Organisation, calling for greater support for mothers to initiate breastfeeding immediately after birth. This year’s theme is “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works.”
For newborns, breast milk is more than food. Colostrum is rich in essential nutrients, antibodies and immune cells that help in protecting a baby against infections and diseases.