It seems that the indefatigable Caruana Galizia and la Micallef Leyson have united to have another go at the Health Promotion Department for doing its bit to raise awareness on the beauty and benefits of breastfeeding. Beauty in the hope that more people recognise that mother’s milk comes in the wonderful packaging of a breast; and the benefits because there is absolutely nothing better than what nature intended. I find it futile to pontificate any further on the plethora of scientific literature that backs what the department has always stated regarding this issue.

Breastfeeding was and still is a very normal function attributed to motherhood. What is the big fuss? Even the ILO (International Labour Organisation) is strongly promoting the idea of working mothers having breastfeeding breaks. These are the signs of the times. As more women join the workforce, partly due to economic reasons and also because more women would like to continue with their careers, it is imperative that working environments support breastfeeding mothers to return to work while being able to nourish the infant with nature’s best.

While on the breastfeeding and work subject, it must be said that women and men opting for a career break, who have decided to stay home to look after their children, deserve our respect. Homemakers, whether it is women or men, should not be made to feel any less competent than those who juggle work and family life. If need be, one-income families are given some form of financial assistance to help make ends meet. Our society should be doing everything it can to protect the family, which at the end of the day is the basis of a healthy society in more ways than one.

One of our national objectives should be to implement family-friendly policies that empower mothers and fathers to make the right choices that suit the needs of their family, thereby reducing the stress most parents have to cope with when dealing with the day-to-day demands of raising children.

On a final note, with reference to Micallef Leyson’s article regarding obese children, who unfortunately she terms as “fatties”, there is a whole number of reasons why Malta tops the European charts in childhood obesity. But that is another story altogether. Perhaps the “quick witted” Caruana Galizia might attempt to give us the recipe for slim, wiz kids.

Maria Ellul

Principal Scientific Officer (Nutrition)

Health Promotion Department