Mothers in Anguilla have been told that if they were to nurse their babies for two years and more, they would provide them with the normal nutrition and protection against illness at a time when it is common among other toddlers.

L-R: Mackie Thomas, Vernice Battick, Civilla Kentish and Doreen James

The timely advice has come from Nutrition and Health Coordinator, Vernice Battick. She was at the time addressing a large number of mothers at a special awards and recognition ceremony held in their honour on November 7. The occasion, at the Teachers’ Resource Centre, climaxed National Breastfeeding Week in Anguilla. The events, held under the theme “Breastfeeding: A Family Affair Going for the Gold,” were organised by Mrs. Battick and her team.

“The World Health Organisation recommends that mothers [should] continue to breastfeed [their babies] up to two years and beyond,” Mrs. Battick informed the mothers who were accompanied by a few available fathers. “This may appear to be a difficult feat but today as I look around at the many mothers and happy, healthy babies at this ceremony, I must say we are encouraged and convinced that this is not an impossible task. There are many benefits that can be derived from extended breastfeeding.”

Mothers and some fathers at the Awards Ceremony

Mrs. Battick continued: “If you nurse your baby for two years and beyond, you will have continued to provide your baby’s normal nutrition and protection against illness at a time when illness is common in other babies. Your baby will probably be well-started on table foods too. He or she has had time to form a solid bond with you the mother – a healthy starting point for his/her growing independence. In addition, he/she will be old enough that you and the baby can work together on the weaning process at a pace that your baby can handle. A former US Surgeon-General said: ‘It is the lucky baby…that nurses to age two’. I would like to that it is the happy, well-adjusted, intelligent and healthy baby that is breastfed to two years and beyond.”

The Nutrition and Health Coordinator made the point that many people had the mistaken idea that today’s infant formulas available at supermarkets were nearly identical to human milk and that they were almost as good as breast milk. “That is not true at all,” she stressed. “Breast milk is so much better and there is no comparison. God knew what He was doing when He ordained our bodies to produce this amazing substance that makes babies strive. To make matters worse, with the rising cost of food, the price of infant formula has skyrocketed and so it is very expensive to feed a baby using infant formula.”

One of the mothers at the awards and recognition ceremony was Shauna Connor, a teacher at the Adrian Hazell Primary School. She gave made this comment to The Anguillian: “I very pleased, as a mom, to know that the other mothers and I are appreciated by the Anguillian community and especially by the Nutrition and Health Promotion Department. It is very pleasing that there is a programme for us mothers who are breastfeeding. It is very important and helps us to bond with the baby. I hope that through this programme other mothers will be encouraged to breastfeed their babies for as long as possible.”

Shauna Connor and baby

Shauna’s baby, Khai Smith, is three months old this week.

The sponsors who contributed to the awards and recognition ceremony were FirstCaribbean International Bank, Scotia Bank, National Bank of Anguilla, Social Security and D-3 Enterprises.

The names of the mothers for honouring were provided by the Managers and Nurses of the five District Health Centres and Dr. Brett Hodge’s Private Practice (in the Johnson’s Building in The Valley).

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