Improving Child Health Through Breastfeeding: World Vision's Efforts

Mothers Clubs are structures that bring together a group of mothers in a community to share their knowledge and experiences on topics such as hygiene and nutrition that are relevant to the well-being of their children. 

In the Northern region, for instance, World Vision International-Haiti oversees 14 Mothers ‘Clubs, only in the Limonade Aera Program. Each club is led by a mother leader who had previously been trained to help other young or new mothers make the right decisions for their children, including adopting exclusive breastfeeding. 

Edeline, a mother of six lives in Limonade. She explains that in her community most of the mothers did not practice breastfeeding, and those who did practice it did not do so exclusively. However, through the trainings she received from World Vision, she was able to clearly understand and easily adhere to the practice as she recognized the benefits of breastfeeding for children.

“I share what I learned with other mothers in my community at the Mothers' Club activities. I have noticed that many of them have started to adopt the practice of breastfeeding as for now. They have told me how happy they are with this choice, because they notice that their children are now living healthy lives” she says. 

“Another reality that should be pointed out is that many of them would have great difficulty in buying milk all the time, due to lack of economic means. Thanks to the breastfeeding method, they no longer have to worry,” she adds.

"The practice of breastfeeding creates a symbiotic relationship between mother and child. Breastfeeding is more hygienic, because the child is less likely to catch germs, unlike other milks that require a whole set of preparations," explains Nurse Urline Durosier, WV Area Program Supervisor in Limonade.

"People tend to resist the practice of exclusive breastfeeding during six months since they fear their children would lack energy. Some of the mothers we met used to breastfeed for two to three months based on this belief," Urline continues. 

“At the Mothers' Club meetings, mobile clinics, and any other opportunity, we always take the time to explain and ensure that we persuade them about the importance of breastfeeding in the well-being of children. Our hope is that every mother in our communities of intervention masters the art of breastfeeding their babies” Miss Urlinestates. 

‘’The various sessions taken into consideration different aspect related to the topic as we teach them on not only how to position themselves well when breastfeeding babies, but also how to know if they have already received the three (3) layers of milk (water, protein, fat) so that so that they don’t cry from hunger”, Miss Urline adds.

It obviously took more efforts to reach the same level of comprehension and adherence in the community of Bois de Lance (2nd communal section of Limonade). 

According to Jeanne, a mother leader working with World Vision in this area, "Most people used to believe that giving food to children is better for them. Therefore, they would ignore or simply reject the health benefits of exclusive breastfeeding for both children and mothers. 

"As a health worker, also trained on the subject by World Vision, I will continue to take advantage of talking with mothers in the Clubs to help them understand the need to stick to exclusive breastfeeding," confidently says Jeanne. 

"I won’t give up on this cause”, promises Jeanne who commits to keep attending Mothers' Club activities in her community as a way to contribute to the sensitization or even education of peer participants. She believes that more and more mothers will get on board in the journey towards healthier children thanks to breastfeeding.