By Jaythaleela K
MIRI, Oct 28: Good news for mothers here. They can now breastfeed their babies in a conducive environment while waiting for their flights at Miri Airport.
This follows the opening of a ‘Baby Care Room’ today on the first floor of the airport (on the same level as the Departure Hall) by Minister of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah.
This initiative of the Miri Health Department in collaboration with Malaysia Airports Berhad (MAB) Miri is to encourage breastfeeding among mothers.
This is the second facility of its kind in the state. The one in Kuching was launched three years ago.
In thanking MAB and Miri Health Department for materialising this project, Fatimah hoped more mothers in the state would breastfeed their babies.
She called on both the private and public sectors to emulate the good work of MAB and the Health Department by promoting and encouraging breastfeeding.
“Breast milk contains vitamins, minerals, nutrients and antibodies tailored to meet infants’ changing nutritional needs,” she said.
In Sarawak, the percentage of mothers who exclusively breastfeed for the first six months has increased from 10.1 per cent in 2011 to 37.5 per cent last year.
“This year, the rate so far is 42.4 per cent, but the target set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) is at least 50 per cent of exclusive breastfeeding by 2025. That means, we need to put in more effort,” she said.
Also present at the launching ceremony were Miri Health Department officer Dr Veronica Lugah and Miri Airport Berhad manager Zainal Abidin Harun. — DayakDaily
