Nyeri mums during a breastfeeding campaign. File photo | nmg
The number of Kenyan infants who are
exclusively breastfed up to the age of six months has doubled to 61.4
per cent in the past year, significantly lowering cases of malnutrition.
The
higher breastfeeding rate has also made infants less susceptible to
opportunistic diseases, according to a report by the United Nations
Development Agency (UNDP).
The Human Development Report
released yesterday shows that the number of Kenyan infants exclusively
breastfed during their first five months went up from the 31.9 per cent
mark recorded in the 2015 index.
Kenya was, however,
outdone by Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda who recorded 63 per cent, 69.3 per
cent and 87.3 Per cent, breastfeeding rates respectively. Only 41.1
per cent of infants below the age of five months were exclusively
breastfed in Tanzania.
Exclusive breastfeeding has been
on the rise in Kenya owing to consistent campaigns by the government
and an improved working environment that allows lactating mothers to
express milk while at work.
A human resource policy
introduced last year has given employers three years to provide space
with electric outlets to enable lactating mothers to express milk as
well as break intervals and refrigeration facilities, meaning that the
number of exclusively breastfed babies is set to rise.
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