The World Health Organization (WHO) has appealed to mothers to breastfeed their children in order for them to stay healthy.

WHO’s Director General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the call at a media briefing on Covid-19 held on the morning of August 3, 2020.

The call has also come as the world is observing the breast feeding week, which started on 1 and ends on August 7.

Addressing the media, Dr. Ghebreyesus reiterated the importance of breastfeeding to a child’s life.

He said at a time the Covid-19 has disrupted health services it is important to encourage mothers suspected or confirmed to have Covid-19 to initiate or continue to breastfeed.

The WHO Director General also stressed on the need for mothers to be counselled on the many benefits of breastfeeding their newborn babies and children saying they outweigh the potential risks for Covid-19 infection.

He also appealed for mothers and infants to be helped to remain together while rooming in throughout the day and night and to practice skin-to-skin contact, including kangaroo mother care, especially immediately after birth and during establishment of breastfeeding, whether they or their infants have suspected or confirmed Covid-19.