In addition to this amendable law being a hiccup to the practice, another ignorantly diving impediment is the attitudes of some mothers who consider exclusive breastfeeding as threat to the very survival of babies.

 Mrs Mary Azika, a Senior Midwife at the Bolgatanga Municipal Health Centre, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, explained that under normal circumstances a mother was expected to exclusively breastfeed her baby for six months, but she was given only three months maternity leave.

Section 57 (1 & 3-5) of the Labour Act 2003 (Act 651), guarantees only 12 weeks, approximately three months of maternity leave to breastfeeding mothers. A breastfeeding mother may be lucky to receive additional 14 days provided that such a mother underwent caesarean delivery during childbirth. This is contrary to the effective health promotion messages that advocate six months exclusive breastfeeding.

Mrs Azika further explained that the three months duration often affected nursing mothers to practice exclusive breastfeeding and condemned the practice where employers disallow breastfeeding mothers to carry their babies to the work place after the three months maternity leave expires.

This, she noted, often compelled most mothers to either break the protocol of exclusive breastfeeding for the six months period and resort to other feeding formulas or even express their breast milk for caretakers to feed their babies when they leave for work.

She indicated that the expressed milk from the mother meant to feed the baby could be contaminated and so should be avoided.

She mentioned instances where some mothers–in-law have disallowed mothers to exclusively breastfeed their babies as another major challenge confronting the practice of exclusive breastfeeding of babies.

Explaining some of the benefits derived from exclusive breastfeeding, Madam Azika, mentioned that the practice boosted the child’s immune system for a very long time which prevents the baby from contracting infectious diseases.

Besides she explained that it enhanced the intelligent quotient (IQ) of the child, and was cheaper and the best natural milk which rarely contaminated like other food formulas.

“Breast milk promotes sensory and cognitive development, and protects the infant against infectious and chronic diseases. Exclusive breastfeeding reduces infant mortality due to common childhood illnesses such as diarrhoea or pneumonia, and quickens recovery during illness” she stressed.

She added that apart from exclusive breastfeeding contributing to the proper growth and wellbeing of the child it also contributed to the health and well-being of mothers, because it helped to space children, and reduced the risk of ovarian and breast cancers.

The Senior Midwife explained that Breast milk was the natural first food for babies and indicated that it provided all the energy and nutrients that the infant needed for the first month of life and continues to provide up to half or more of a child’s nutritional needs during the second half of the first year, and up to one-third during the second year of life.

She explained further that exclusive breastfeeding for six months is the optimal way of feeding infants and noted that thereafter infants should receive complementary foods with continued breastfeeding for two years or beyond.

Whilst calling on the Government to review the maternity leave from the current three months upwards to six months, Madam Azika said men as heads of family who lead in the decision making process have a very vital role in promoting exclusive breastfeeding.

She indicated that they could do this by insisting that their wives exclusively breastfed their newborn babies instead of being forced by their mothers–in-law not to practice exclusive breastfeeding.

She called on Non-Governmental Organizations, traditional and religious leaders and the media to join forces with the Ghana Health Service to promote exclusive breastfeeding particularly at rural communities where most mothers are disallowed from practicing the concept

She disabused the minds of some mothers-in-law who would always insist that babies could not live without water and indicated that breast milk contained more water and good food nutrients that could keep babies healthy.