Infants in cyclone affected areas must be breast-fed at all times to ensure that they are in the best of health.

The Health Ministry has committed to ensuring that babies are not given infant formula or any other substitute to breast-feeding.

To this effect, Health Minister Jone Usamate has this morning signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund.

Usamate says mothers should continue breastfeeding their babies in this time of crisis.

Infant formula and other powdered milk products could result in infections from unsafe water supply and sanitation.

‘’While we’re in an emergency situation we need to make sure to look after our children that they get the right kind of food that they have because it’s not just about the emergency but it’s also about what happens after that. Having this agreement in place and having everybody sign is something that is good for our young children for the future generation and we’re very thankful to our partners’’.

The National Disaster Management office has also signed the MOU – making a commitment not to replace mothers’ milk with any substitute.

UNICEF says there’s a misconception that mothers can’t breastfeed adequately during emergencies because of stress or lack of nutrition.