Viallaite: a little step… but a huge impact, or how to improve nutrition and reduce infant mortality

15.12.18

Viallaite, an association active in Cameroon, joins the MMM network. Its objective is to encourage breastfeeding and healthy nutrition, to guarantee good health for both mother and baby.

Cameroon’s situation is emblematic of those in many other developing countries. A lack of information and also misinformation, now leads to too few mothers breastfeeding their babies (26% according to UNICEF), or mothers stopping too soon. Furthermore, too few know how to feed their children correctly to maintain good health.

Influenced by western culture and believing they are doing the best for their babies, mothers have largely adopted formula milk. Unfortunately, this belief, as well as negatively affecting their household budget, leads to child malnutrition. These substitute milk products are often too diluted, mixed with non-drinking water or used with badly sterilised bottles and teats. The illnesses which follow can be dramatic, sad because they could have been so easily avoided with simple advice from the time of pregnancy and the first few hours after the baby’s birth.

These families need urgent help to keep their babies in good health by this completely natural use of mother’s milk. Viallaite is taking this on.

“ViAllaite”, or “la vie via l’Allaitement maternel” (life through mothers’ milk)

Plaquette Viallaite pour encourager l'allaitement au Cameroun

Viallaite’s objective is to help mothers up to the time of weaning. The association works with counselors, who raise awareness, and who inform and support mothers in maternity units and medical centres.

These counselors are locally trained by the association, with the help of local pediatricians. They work both in small dispensaries as well as larger units, to inform and train the personnel. They also act more directly by helping mothers who have just given birth, and by holding free consultations on vaccination days or follow-up appointments for pregnant women.

In two years, three counselors have advised 30,000 mothers.

Make Mothers Matter is delighted that Viallaite has joined the group of associations within the MMM network working in the field of maternal and child health. Viallaite is a wonderful example of “good practice” and the proof that even with limited means, a well-run project and a good dose of determination can produce spectacular results.

For more information, visit the Viallaite website.

 

Most read articles

Mothers, unpaid care work and global crises – connecting the dots

02.07.24

UN New York / HLPF - Register now to join us online at this year’s High Level Political Forum side-event.

Lire plus

Investing in mothers key for inter-generational change

13.02.24

UN New York, CSocD62 - MMM's intervention to the Commission on Social Development reiterates that investing in mothers through recognition, education, protection and adequate support is a smart invest

Lire plus

Let’s change the narrative: Invest in Mothers

11.03.24

UN New York, CSW68 - Join us for a discussion on changing the narrative in support of mothers - an online parallel event to the 68th UN Commission on the

Lire plus
See all the articlesof the category

Other News from the MMM Network

Girls’ education in Côte d’Ivoire: cornerstone of development and the empowerment of mothers

15.11.24

Make Mothers Matter (MMM) visited Côte d’Ivoire to mark International Day of the Girl Child on 14 October 2024. Our UNESCO advocacy team leader, Brigitte Marais, took part in the celebration of this signific

Read more

MMM team leaders on the ground with our grass roots organisations

14.11.24

It’s not often we get to go into the field but when we do, it brings us immense joy to connect with our associate members in person and witness their amazing work, often against the odds.

Read more

Mothers and peace in the spotlight

24.09.24

MMM in France - a look back at our high level dinner hosted at the Versailles Town Hall near Paris.

Read more

Reconciling parenthood and work in Belgium – join the public consultation

30.05.24

MMM is proud to announce its support of a new initiative aimed at tackling the vital topic of ‘parenthood and employment’, a critically overlooked, urgent, and complex issue world-wide.

Read more

KISANY joins MMM as first social enterprise member

01.05.24

In celebration of the various international mothers' days in May, we are delighted to welcome KISANY to the MMM network. As strong believers in the vital role of mothers in society and the need to invest in the

Read more

Stop using women and girls as weapons of war says MMM member

27.02.24

UN Geneva, Human Rights Council - Passy Mubalama, Activist and Executive Director of Aidprofen, our associate member in the Democratic Republic of Congo, was one of the 4 Civil Society speakers selected to addr

Read more