The second episode of Em Pawa Hour featured Alison Harris, founder and president of WINGS Vanuatu, Emmett Ilaisa, breastfeeding advocate and midwife, and Nerida Hinge, Acting Nutrition Coordinator of Ministry of Health.
The theme of the show was ‘Breastfeeding’ and explored the benefits of breastfeeding, Vanuatu’s first ‘Mama’s Melek Lefet’ on Monday August 7th 2017 and how National Breastfeeding week will be a reminder every year from now on, to encourage mothers to breastfeed their baby.
Topics included:
The Law – Did you know A female staff member who is breastfeeding is entitled to a break of half an hour twice a day or 15 minutes four times a day during working hours for this purpose?
Empawa Hour’s guests all encouraged workplaces to support mothers and also encouraged fathers and families to also put in the effort to ensure that mothers can breastfeed their children during working hours.
The Benefits of Breastfeeding – Breast milk is best for your baby, and the benefits of breastfeeding extend well beyond basic nutrition. In addition to containing all the vitamins and nutrients your baby needs in the first six months of life, breast milk is packed with disease-fighting substances that protect your baby from illness.
Alison stressed that it’s about encouraging women to breastfeed and not about shaming a mother who cannot. But the science says it all – breast milk is what is best for your baby and your body knows how to produce the right nutrients to ensure your baby is as healthy as can be! So if you can, please try to breastfeed your baby and if you’re struggling, contact the team at WINGS Vanuatu who are here to help!
Breastfeeding is also beneficial to mothers. It helps keep the weight off, strengthens the connection with your baby and can reduce your stress levels.
And let’s not forget that breastfeeding is much CHEAPER – one tin of formula milk can cost as much as 2000vt.
Breastfeeding is a health strategy in government plans – it is part of the Vanuatu government’s plans to strengthen breastfeeding practices.
Director of Public Health Len Tarivonda’s speech on National Breastfeeding Week at the Melek Lafet at Saralana Park was played during the show and he said, ‘Life is like a race. If you have a good start, then you will be able to run the race well. When a child is at the beginning of his life, breastfeeding helps him have a good start to his life. I am sure all of us here have been breastfed. Breastfeeding is not just the mother’s business. It is also the father’s business too.’
Tune in every Thursday, 8 -9am on FM107 for Em Pawa Hour!
Follow Em Pawa on Facebook
For the latest information on Em Pawa Hour, click here
For the latest information on Van2017 Pacific Mini Games, visit their website
