Ministry of Health Seychelles

12/08/2026

Did you miss our interview on Menopause? 🌸

View the interview online with Gynaecologist Dr Robert Michel and Dr Maria Stravens, as they discuss menopause and address some of the common questions and concerns surrounding this important stage of a woman’s life.

Menopause is a natural process in every woman’s life, but it can bring physical and emotional changes that may raise many questions.

🎥 Watch the full interview using the link below and learn more about menopause, what to expect, and how to navigate this natural transition.

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12/08/2026

Dr Ibrahim Norbert Richard, Secretary General of the Indian Ocean Commission paid a courtesy call on Minister for Health, Dr Marvin F***y.

12/08/2026

The Ministry of Health extends its sincere appreciation to the National Youth Service (NYS) 1985–1986 Group for their generous donation of three room refrigerators to Hermitte Ward at Seychelles Hospital.

The handover was attended by the First Lady of the Republic of Seychelles, Mrs Veronique Herminie, and the Minister for Health, Dr Marvin F***y.

This thoughtful contribution reflects a strong spirit of community support and will help enhance the comfort and convenience of patients, visitors, and staff, creating a more supportive environment within the ward.

07/08/2026

Step 10: Continued Support After Leaving Hospital
Breastfeeding support should continue after a mother and baby leave the hospital.

Before discharge, parents should receive:
• Information on where and how to get help.
• Contact details for community health centres.
• Guidance on follow-up care.
• Referral to additional breastfeeding support when needed.

What this means for families: You are not expected to manage breastfeeding challenges alone. Contact your nearest health centre whenever you need advice or support.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵’𝘀 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝘆𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱.

07/08/2026

Step 9: Understanding Bottles, Teats and Pacifiers

Mothers and caregivers should receive clear information about the use and possible risks of feeding bottles, teats and pacifiers.

Their use may:
• Make it more difficult for some babies to breastfeed effectively.
• Reduce the number of times a baby breastfeeds.
• Affect the mother’s milk supply.
• Increase the risk of infection if they are not properly cleaned and sterilised.

When a breastfed baby cannot feed directly at the breast, a trained health worker may recommend a temporary alternative, such as cup or syringe feeding.

What this means for families: Speak to a health worker before introducing a bottle, teat or pacifier.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵’𝘀 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝘆𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱.

07/08/2026

Step 8: Follow Your Baby’s Feeding Cues

Babies should be fed when they show signs that they are ready - not only according to a fixed schedule.

Early feeding cues may include:
• Moving the hands towards the mouth.
• Sucking on fingers or fists.
• Making sucking movements or noises.
• Turning the head and opening the mouth.
• Becoming restless or fussy.

Crying is often a late sign of hunger.

What this means for families: Keep your baby close, learn their cues and offer a feed whenever they show signs of hunger.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵’𝘀 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝘆𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱.

07/08/2026

Step 7: Keeping Mothers and Babies Together

Healthy mothers and babies should remain together in the same room, day and night, throughout their hospital stay. This is called rooming-in.

Rooming-in helps mothers:
• Become familiar with their baby’s behaviour.
• Recognise early feeding cues.
• Breastfeed more easily and frequently.
• Gain confidence in caring for their baby.

What this means for families: Mothers and babies should only be separated when there is a justifiable medical or safety reason.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵’𝘀 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝘆𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱.

07/08/2026

Minister Dr. Marvin F***y, Minister for Health, met with representatives from all relevant units to discuss ways to improve the patient appointment system and enhance access to healthcare services.

07/08/2026

BFHI Step 6: Breast Milk Only, Unless Medically Indicated

Breastfed newborns should receive only breast milk - no water, herbal tea, glucose water or infant formula - unless medically indicated or following a fully informed parental decision.

Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for the first six months of life.
What this means for families: Breast milk provides the food and fluids a baby needs during the first six months.

Mothers who do not breastfeed, or who stop breastfeeding following an informed decision, should also receive respectful support and guidance on feeding their babies safely.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵’𝘀 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝘆𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱.

07/08/2026

BFHI Step 5: Practical Help to Breastfeed

Mothers should be supported to start breastfeeding, maintain their milk supply and manage common difficulties.

Health workers can help mothers:
• Position and attach their baby correctly.
• Recognise effective feeding.
• Express and safely handle breast milk.
• Maintain their milk supply when separated from their baby.
• Overcome breastfeeding challenges.

What this means for families: Breastfeeding may take time to learn. Asking for help is normal.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵’𝘀 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝘆𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱.