Just over 53 per cent of mothers were breastfeeding their newborn at the time of discharge from hospital, but despite a slight increase on last year's figures Malta still ranked second lowest in Europe when it came to breastfeeding practices.

Malta stood wedged between Ireland, which had the lowest breastfeeding rate of 39 per cent, and the UK with 69 per cent - it still had a long way to go to attain the goal of 90 per cent established in Malta's Breastfeeding Policy in 2000.

As Malta yesterday marked World Breastfeeding Week, health organisations pledged to continue working to ensure that the proper structures were in place to encourage more mothers to exclusively breastfeed for at least six months.

The World Health Organisation has long been harping on the benefits of breastfeeding for at least six months and this year's theme is Exclusive Breastfeeding: The Gold Standard - Safe, Sound and Sustainable.

This year the Health Promotion Department has teamed up with the Association of Breastfeeding Counsellors and Karin Grech Hospital's maternity management to create a greater awareness on the importance of breastfeeding.

Apart from bonding with their newborn, breastfeeding had numerous benefits for both the child and the mother. Breast milk provided everything the baby needed and reduced the child's risk of gastro-enteritis, respiratory, urinary tract and ear infections, eczema, childhood diabetes and obesity.

A mother who breastfed her child will also have a lower risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer and ovarian cancer, and also gain her figure much quicker - when a woman's body is making breast milk it burns about 500 calories a day.

Apart from that, breast milk was free and also served to reduce the amount of waste generated through discarded baby food containers and unnecessary packaging.

Lucienne Pace, nutritionist and department scientific officer, said it was so sad to see so many mothers in Malta who did not realise the advantages and benefits of breastfeeding.

"We cannot judge those who opt not to breastfeed, but sometimes mothers are not provided with the adequate knowledge or support they require," Ms Pace said.

Women who planned to return to work after three months were also disheartened but breast milk could be expressed beforehand and the proper structures provided by employers could also facilitate their lives.

Sina Bugeja, chief executive of the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality for Men and Women, said that while Malta was working to have 60 per cent of women in the labour force by 2010, this would not be achieved unless the proper structures were in place and employers adopted a culture change.

Employers were still hesitant to employ or promote women who were getting married and planned to start a family, which forced women to either delay having a child or disrupt her career.

"In this day and age women are still having to choose, when it shouldn't be the case. Fertility rates continue to drop and though employers pay a lot of lip service on the subject, they have to be more willing to take concrete action," Ms Bugeja said.

"We seem comfortable hiding women's talents, but if we do not invest today and establish clear policies, we will regret it a few years down the road," she added.

Children Commissioner Sonia Camilleri also highlighted the importance of ensuring the child's rights were safeguarded and that the mother was provided with adequate structures to be able to breastfeed.

"The breastfeeding culture is slowly starting to spread in Malta and mothers should ask for help when they face difficulties and not give up," she advised.

Mothers often chose not to breastfeed because of conflicting advice they received from family and friends, when all they would need is a bit of reassurance to continue in their quest to breastfeed.

As part of the activities of breastfeeding week a poster has been distributed in various health settings and the community.

To reduce the misconceptions attached to breastfeeding and assist parents to make their choice, a brochure has also been published with a list of frequently asked questions.

Within a month maternity services will include a breastfeeding walk-in clinic which will form part of the post-natal ward to facilitate the mothers' lives.

If you wish to obtain the brochure or require further information call the department on 2123 1247.