Health experts have called for urgent action to promote breastfeeding nationally in Vietnam.

This follows a recent survey showing that only 10 percent of Vietnamesechildren are breastfed exclusively during their first six months.

The call for action was launched on July 29 to mark the WorldBreastfeeding Week organised by the Ministry of Health and the UnitedNations under the "Alive and Thrive" initiative. The event is beingorganised in 120 countries.

"Health personnel andhealthcare units play an important role in promoting breastfeeding,"said Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Ba Thuy.

"Health staff at maternal and child healthcare units need to tellmothers to breastfeed babies within an hour of birth and to provideguidance on maintaining milk flow," said Thuy.

Health workers overseas are taught that breastfeeding is more than a lifestyle choice, it's an important health choice.

Infant formulas cannot match the exact chemical make-up of human milk,especially the cells, hormones, and antibodies that fight disease.

A recent survey showed that in Vietnam, few mothers initiatebreastfeeding in the false belief that mother's milk production isinadequate.

Le Minh Phuong, a state worker inHanoi, complained that she could not maintain breastfeeding her baby forsix months because the law stipulated she had to return to work afterfour months' maternity leave.

"It is very difficult for mothers to maintain breastfeeding activities after maternity leave," she said.

Lack of support from family members and health workers is another barrier to breastfeeding.

"A strong commitment from the health sector, government andinternational organisations is important", said the United Nations Fundfor Children acting representative in Vietnam Jean Dupraz./.