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NEWS and FEATURESPage 8 17 July 2009
BREAST feeding is the methodof choice, according to WorldHealth Organisation, for thefollowing reasons:
❏ It meets all the babiesnutritional requirements forthe first six months; it is wellabsorbed and digestedcausing few digestive upsets.
❏ It contains substanceswhich help prevent infectionsand boosts the baby’simmune system.
Exclusively breast fed babies(this means no water, formulaor solids for the first sixmonths) are much less likelyto get infections than bottlefed babies.
❏ Allergic conditions areless likely to occur inexclusively breast fed babies.
❏ Sudden infant deathsyndrome is lower in breastfed infants.
❏ It is convenient and moreeconomical than bottlefeeding.
❏ It strengthens theemotional bond betweenmother and child.
How to establish breastfeeding
❏ Put the baby to the breastwithin the first hour of birth,as this is when the suckinginstinct is strongest.
❏ Feed on demand,whenever the baby is hungry,at least eight times in 24hours. This will ensure highlevels of prolactin, a hormonewhich produces breast milk.The more frequently the babysucks the more prolactin ismade and the more milk isproduced, and vice versa.
❏ Do not give baby anythingother than breast milk, thishelps prevent infections, aswell as preventing
engorgement/mastitis in themother.
Check for the following tosee baby is correctlypositioned at the breast:
❏ Baby should lie on hisside facing the breast
❏ The whole body should besupported, not just the upperhalf.
Check baby is attached tothe breast correctly:
❏ Mouth must be openwide.
❏ Chin should touch thebreast.
❏ The lower lip should beturned outwards, not inwards.
❏ The areola should becovered by the baby’s lowerlip, and should not be visible,below the nipple.
Correct positioning andattachment is vital, because itensures the baby suckseffectively and gets enoughmilk, it also prevents sore orcracked nipples.
Colostrum is the first milkwhich is secreted from thebreast, in the first few daysafter delivery.
It is important that babyreceives colostrum as it is richin nutrients and substanceswhich protect the newbornfrom infections
Around the third to fourthday breast milk will beproduced. Breast milk, unlikecow’s milk, looks bluish, butthis does not mean it is weak.
It is important for mother todemand feed, and to let thebaby suckle from one breastfor 10 to 20 minutes, when
the baby is satisfied he will letgo of the nipple.
The mother can then offerthe other breast. In this waybaby will get the “foremilk”which satisfies thirst and the“hind” milk which containsmore fat and satisfies thebaby’s hunger.
Offering formula will makethe baby drink less frequently,and as a result prolactin levelswill drop, less breast milk willbe made, and baby won’t besatisfied.
It will also result in babybeing more likely to getinfections, therefore it is notrecommended.
HIV and breast feeding – thelatest research
❏ Exclusive breast feedingfor the first six months, andthen weaning from breast hasa 1- 4% chance oftransmission of HIV.
❏ “Mix” feeding (giving,
formula, solids or water plusbreast) increases the rate ofHIV transmission: Breast milkand formula = twofold; breastmilk and solids = elevenfold.
❏ While bottle feedingcarries no risk of HIV, the riskof dying from diarrhoea andrespiratory infectionsincreases tenfold, comparedwith exclusively breast fedbabies. For this reason breastfeeding is usually the saferoption.
❏ Babies who have testedHIV positive, do better onbreast milk; they survivelonger and have fewerinfections.
It is important for motherswho are HIV positive to beadvised by HIV counsellorsabout feeding choices, toenable them to choose thesafest feeding method fortheir circumstances.
* Supplied by the City HealthUnit
CONTACTS
Aids Helpline0800 012 322Ambulance (public)10177Ambulance (private)082 911Air Pollution031 311 3555O/H 8am – 4pm, Mon – FriA/H contact Emergency Services031 361 0000Beaches and Recreation Facilities031 335 3700O/H 7.30am – 6pmDevelopment Planning031 311 7883O/H 7am – 4.30pm Mon – FriSub divisionRezoningSpecial consentDevelopment Management031 311 7881Building inspectoratePlans submissions EnforcementAdvertising and Signage031 311 7055Environment031 311 7875Engineering Services Centre080 131 3013O/H 24hrs, 7 days a weekRoad repairsStormwaterBlockages/repairsReplacement of manhole coversRepairs of guardrails and roadside fencingSidewalk and kerb repairsSewer repairs/blockagesRoad marking and Street signsWater reconnections/AccountsFaulty traffic signalFlooding coastalInfrastructureWater faultsWater pollutionWater account queriesSMS: 083 707 3013Fax: 031 311 8220Mxit: 083 707 3013Email: [email protected] Call Centre031 328 1200O/H 7.30am to 4.30pm, Mon to Fri and 7.30 – 11.30 on SatRatesElectricityWater AccountsEmergency Services
031 361 0000O/H 24Hrs, 7 Days a week:• Fire• Disaster Management• Metro PoliceElectricity Call Centre0800 13 13 11O/H 24Hrs, 7 days a weekFaults and breakdowns Fax: 031 328 1050Street lightsIllegal connectionsCable theft031 311 9611Health 031 311 3555O/H 7am to 4.30pm Mon toFriA/H contact EmergencyServicesAir pollutionEnvironmental noiseIllegal dumpingFood safetyCommunicable diseasesHazardous chemicalSubstancesVector Control (mosquitoes,flies, rats, etc)Illegal dumping031 311 8804O/H 7:30am – 4pm, Mon to FriRefuse Removal031 311 8824O/H 7.30am – 4pm,Mon to FriRemoval of dead animalsParks, Leisure andCemeteries031 201 1303O/H 7.30am – 4pm,Mon to FriVerge and grass maintenanceFallen and trimming of treesafter hours080 131 3013Ombudsperson and Head080 020 2020Investigations031 311 6114O/H 8am to 4pm, Mon to Fri031 311 6143Reporting fraud, corruptionand maladministration in themunicipality:[email protected] 031 311 4002Regional Centres (Sizakala)080 033 1011O/H 7.30am – 4pm,Mon to Fri080 033 1011One Stop Shops access/payments for council services031 311 6101Switchboard031 311 1111O/H 7.30am – 5pm, Mon – Fri
YOUR HEALTH
KHAYA SENGANI
A PROJECT involving EnglishFootball League One clubCharlton Athletic and theMunicipality continues to putthe boot into crime in theInanda, Ntuzuma andKwaMashu (Ink) area.
The project is using footballto improve relations betweenthe community, police andschool pupils. It hopes to turnchildren away from anti-social behaviour, such as drugabuse.
Also involved are the SAPS,Amazulu Football Club, theLondon’s Metropolitan Police,the Department of Educationand a number of Ink areaschools.
This project was launchedin February and so far 20
coaches, including SAPSpersonnel, teachers andmembers of the community,have been trained.
Sixteen schools wereselected for soccer coaching,with 80 pupils from eachschool participating.
Twenty-five school beat-officers have also been trainedto improve the safety of pupilsat schools.
Insp Mark Johnson, of theMetropolitan Police, said, “Weare working with educa-tionalists and other partnersto contribute to a jointcommunity safety strategy foryoung people.”
Const Mandla Nhlozi, of theSAPS in Inanda, said, “SAPSand partners are usingfootball to remove youngpeople from drugs and other
evils and to create a saferschool environment.
“This will help introduceteaching and learningmethodologies that supportthe Safer Schools programme.People will get a betterunderstanding of the need to
work with the police andcommunity policing forums.”
Joel “Fire” Faya, AmazuluFootball Club reserve coach,said they hoped to encouragegood ethics among theparticipating children.
ON THE BALL: Coaches from the Ink area are putthrough their paces by former Charlton Athletic FootballClub players at the Maoti sports ground
Picture: KHAYA SENGANI
Soccer helpstackle crime
Why breast feeding is best
NONDU NGCONGO
THE eThekwini Health Unit,concerned about the risingnumber of new HIV and Aidscases among deaf people, hasprepared a new awarenessand training course to caterfor their special requirements.
Ntokozo Mthethwa, a seniorquality assurance officer withthe unit, said, “Deaf people donot have access to infor-mation like most of us do.
“Many parents of deafchildren have approached usto come up with a plan toeducate their children on HIVand Aids.
“These are normal peopleand have feelings too. Therewas an urgent need to edu-cate them to prevent newinfections,” Mthethwa said.
Hearing impaired peoplecannot get the full benefit ofradio or television progra-mmes which discuss lifeissues and need to rely onnewspapers and books, whichmost of them cannot afford.
Mthethwa said the unit
recently held its secondtraining session for the deaf.“We want to ensure deafpeople are well trained on HIV
and Aids as counsellors andpeer educators.
“The 10 days’ training hasrevealed the shocking news
that there is still more to bedone to help our deafcommunities.
“Most of them are sexuallyactive and have less infor-mation on what HIV and Aids is all about,” saidMthethwa.
During the session studentswere give a chance to role playas counsellors and educatorsand work on how to deal withpeople who are HIV positive.
Buhle Shezi, an Interpreterwith the City’s Legal ServicesUnit, said, “This will make lifeeasier for deaf people who areinfected to get informationwithout a third personinterpreting.”
The students thanked theMunicipality for giving theman opportunity to use theirskills.
The City Health Unit is alsoworking on other methods ofgetting the anti-Aids messageto the deaf, in a similarfashion to its Braille, CD andaudio tape campaigns for theblind.
Deaf get Aids training
STUDENT: Primrose Hermanus undergoes training as aHIV/Aids counsellor Picture: THEMBA KHUMALO
