Kinshasa, August 5th, 2026 (CPA).– Every drop of breast milk is a “precious” gift for a child’s health and development, has claimed a medical doctor speaking to the CPA on Wednesday in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, ahead of World Breastfeeding Week, celebrated from August 1st to 7th each year. “Breastfeeding is not a test of perfection, but a journey of love and trust. Every drop of breast milk is a precious gift for your child’s health and development. If you choose to breastfeed, know that you are not alone; ask for help, seek support and proceed at your own pace, because behind every mother who receives support is a child who starts life with a huge advantage,” has declared Dr Charlene Mayangi, a physician in the paediatrics department at the “Mère et Enfant” General Referral Hospital in Ngaba.
She has indicated that breastfeeding is a collective responsibility where every act of support helps to give children a better start in life, emphasising that returning to work for a breastfeeding woman does not necessarily mean the end of breastfeeding. Speaking about preparing milk at work, the doctor has affirmed that it is helpful to organise milk-expressing sessions at work, to have a suitable container and, if possible, to discuss the matter with one’s employer in order to benefit from a favourable environment. She has emphasised that keeping up breastfeeding in the mornings, evenings and at weekends helps to maintain milk production and strengthen the bond with the baby (skin-to-skin contact).
Dr Mayangi has advised mothers to start familiarising themselves with the breast pump a few weeks before returning to work, since breast milk can be stored under strict hygiene conditions that is, for a few hours at room temperature, for several days in the fridge and for several months in the freezer, according to current guidelines. It is worth noting that the theme for World Breastfeeding Week 2026 is: ‘Breastfeeding for a sustainable start in life: strengthening what works’.