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I’m a Government Nutrition Officer in Togo. Here’s how I support breastfeeding.

Jul 26 2022

HadjiaFor World Breastfeeding Week 2022, we've asked a variety of people how they support and promote breastfeeding. Hadjia TCHAPO Dapou Epse KONDOR is a nutritionist in the  Division of Nutrition of Togo's Ministry of Public Health and Hygiene and Universal Access to Care. Here's how Hadjia supports breastfeeding.

“I love the view of a breastfeeding child, it’s a beautiful sight. And it’s easy to do something practical, something useful, to support breastfeeding.”

“In my work, I am just now working on a budget for activities to promote exclusive breastfeeding. We are seeking to develop a national strategic plan to promote exclusive breastfeeding. The next step will be to advocate to mobilize the funds. So, we’ll write a memo to decisionmakers to explain the importance of exclusive breastfeeding. Beyond that, the plan includes adapting various communication materials to our local contexts, and community-level activities. We also want to identify a champion to promote exclusive breastfeeding. We are contemplating a pilot project in two districts of the Plateaux Region.

“Outside of this effort, I am also working on a regional food security project. Togo is one of several countries in this project. This project involves programming of activities and training community health agents and technical advisors who manage agriculture activities on critical actions for nutrition and food security – particularly the concept of the first 1,000 days – from pregnancy to two years of age. We will start the pilot of this project in two vulnerable regions in northern Togo.

“When I see a mother with a child, I try to see if she needs support to breastfeed and understands the importance of exclusive breastfeeding. I try to evaluate the breastfeeding, see if there are problems. I often advise young mothers who I meet in my community on the importance of breastfeeding. Many are tempted to use breastmilk substitutes and I try to convince them not to. 

“I love the view of a breastfeeding child, it’s a beautiful sight. And it’s easy to do something practical, something useful, to support breastfeeding.”

Hadjia is a part of "Stronger With Breastmilk Only," a regional initiative to increase rates of exclusive breastfeeding in West and Central Africa. Learn more about the initiative here.

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