The Ministry of Health (MoH) has launched a 24-hour breastfeeding hotline to offer support and advice to new mothers as part of a national campaign to promote exclusive breastfeeding in Brunei.

Dr Hjh Roselina Dato Paduka Hj Yaakub, head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (Ripas) Hospital said the Minister of Health launched the helpline earlier this week as part of World Breastfeeding Week, which runs from August 1 to 8.

Speaking to The Brunei Times at a walkathon and aerobics session at the Health Promotion Centre yesterday, Dr Hjh Roselina said the hotline would be an avenue for new mothers to seek help from Ripas maternity staff after office hours.

“Sometimes new mothers panic and they try to call Ripas for help but it’s late at night and some of the staff may have gone home already. So they (the mothers) are unable to talk to someone with the adequate knowledge,” she explained.

This hotline will straight away put them in touch with staff who know how to help them,” stressed Dr Hjh Roselina.

Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary at the MoH and Director-general of Medical Services Dr Hjh Norlaila Dato Paduka Hj Abdul Jalil said the ministry have started sending SMS push notifications to their staff, promoting healthy living, hoping they will forward the SMSes to their friends and family.

“This is very important during national campaigns such as Breastfeeding Week to spread awareness about health promotion and any events the ministry organises that can benefit the public,” she said.

Dr Hjh Norlaila added that each district will be carrying out their own activities promoting breastfeeding this week, such as workshops for nurses and doctors, which is part of continuing medical education for medical staff.

Mothers will also reap benefits during the week, with Ripas Hospital and several district clinics holding talks and support sessions for lactating mothers.

The MoH also distributed gifts to maternity ward patients in Ripas Hospital in conjunction with the Breastfeeding Week.

The ministry is aggressively promoting the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding, such as increased antibodies and prevention of diseases like obesity and diabetes, in a drive to get mothers to shun milk formula in favour of breast milk for the first six months of a newborn’s life.

“All these efforts are part of our national health strategy to achieve a healthy nation by 2035,” said Dr Hjh Norlaila.

Over 50 staff of the MoH and members of breastfeeding groups gathered at the Health Promotion Centre in Berakas yesterday to participate in a walkathon and aerobics session in conjunction with World Breastfeeding Week.

The group, comprising mostly women, sweated it out during a 30-minute aerobics session before continuing on a 2km walk around the Health Promotion Centre and a nearby park

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