Kaleo (U/W), Sept 09, GNA - Miss Melany Bokuma, Nadowli District Director of Health, has attributed the high prevalence of childhood diseases to inappropriate breastfeeding in most rural communities in the country.

Exclusive breastfeeding, she said, was not only an immunization against diseases but could also reduce mortality and morbidity rates if properly adhered to.

Miss Bokuma said this during the launch of the Nadowli District Breastfeeding programme at Kaleo in the Nadowli District. She said although breastfeeding was a common phenomenon in the region what they were yet to adopt for the betterment of the children was exclusive breastfeeding and gave the assurance that her outfit would step up education on it to reduce the high level of nutrition related diseases.

''Most of the women want to practise exclusive breastfeeding in their communities but efforts are often thwarted by either their husbands or mother in laws. Nonetheless we shall continue to play the advocacy role to ensure that more people adhere to it.''

Miss Prudence Yiripare, the Nadowli District Nutrition Officer, urged family members to give breastfeeding mothers ample time to sufficiently feed the babies to grow as strong adults.

''Remember that if you allow your women to adequately breastfeed their babies you would not spend money unnecessarily on them in terms of medical expenses in your communities.'' Awards were given to mothers who exclusively breastfed their babies for six consecutive weeks.