Medical Officer (Health) for Manchester, Dr. Beverly Wright in encouraging scores of expectant mothers to increase their milk consumption informed and encouraged the mothers to exclusively breastfeed their infants from birth to six months, a policy of the Ministry of Health.

Dr. Wright made the comments at the handing over of milk to pregnant mothers by the Jamaica Dairy Development Board on Friday, September 24, which also marked the penultimate day of celebrations for National Breastfeeding Week.

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“While breast milk is best for the babies, real milk is especially good for the antenatal mother because real milk is very rich in proteins and minerals such as calcium and other proteins and minerals which are good for our nerves as well as for the strength of our bones and teeth” Dr. Wright added.

Turning to the importance of the pregnant woman’s nutrition, Dr. Wright noted that recent research has shown that inadequate nutrition in the antenatal period increases the risk for childhood obesity. Against this background, she encouraged the women to ensure that their nutrition is adequate and appropriate during the antenatal and breastfeeding periods.

The Jamaica Dairy Development Board, an agency of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries has been donating three months supply of milk to pregnant women in an effort to boost their health and nutrition and that of their unborn babies as part of its pilot Postnatal and Antenatal Nutrition Support Programme.

The Board and its partners, Serge Island Dairies, Jamaica Beverages, Edwards Dairy, and Island Dairies Limited in taking its initiative to the southern region recently donated milk to mothers in St. Elizabeth and to mothers in Manchester on Friday, September 24 at the Manchester Health Department.