Government at all levels have been told to create an enabling environment for lactating mothers, as well implement policies that will support exclusive breastfeeding for six months.
This is according to the Acting Country Director, Save the Children International Nigeria, Shannon Ward as the independent humanitarian organization join the world to commemorate the world breastfeeding week.
He says the benefits economically, health-wise, among others could not be over emphasized.
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According to him, exclusive breastfeeding is the best source of nourishment for infants and young children, and a proven lifesaving strategy that helps protect children against several common childhood illnesses, such as diarrhea and pneumonia.
“Breastfeeding saves lives. It is one of the cost-effective intervention for the prevention of deaths in children under five years old.
”Colostrum, the first milk a mother produces, is the most potent natural immune system booster known to science; lactating mothers are encouraged to give it to their babies immediately after delivery.
“The first 1,000 days of a child’s life, (starting from conception to age 2) is very important for optimal physical, mental and cognitive growth, health and development; breastfeeding is the first and significant step in ensuring the cognitive development of children.
“Save the Children International, Nigeria joins the world to commemorate World Breastfeeding Week 2021 and urges the implementation of policies that promote, protect and support exclusive breastfeeding and optimal breastfeeding practices, which is key to improved child survival, development, and contributes to Nigeria’s attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals.
“Save the Children International calls for an increased support to, and protection of, mothers as well as awareness creation for an optimal exclusive breastfeeding practice in Nigeria.
“Economic benefits of breastfeeding to families and society at large cannot be overemphasized. We are advocating for governments at all levels to create enabling environments for lactating mothers by building crèches in workplaces and implementing policies that will support exclusive breastfeeding for six months” he said.
Also, speaking on the theme of this year’s celebration of the world breastfeeding week titled, ‘Protect Breastfeeding, A Shared Responsibility’ with the slogan for Nigeria, “Join Hands! Support Exclusive Breastfeeding”, Save the Children international expressed it brings another opportunity for the collaboration of various stakeholders and interest group including fathers, religious/traditional rulers and private sector to contribute to improving Nigeria’s Exclusive Breastfeeding rates in the country.
Dr Adaeze Oramalu-Ogwuche, Acting Head of Health and Nutrition, Save the Children International Nigeria, said the week is one of the greatest outreach vehicles for the promotion of optimal infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices to other network of influencers (fathers, religious/traditional rulers, institutions and Private sector) as they contribute to the exclusive breastfeeding rate in Nigeria.
He noted that, “the occasion also brings the chance to support health care workers and providers, and community workers and volunteers to be trained adequately to provide breastfeeding counselling, correctly enlighten caregivers on child nutrition while delivering psychosocial support to pregnant women, women and adolescent mothers with infants and young children and adolescent girls, thus integrating mental health & psychosocial support into all Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) counselling”.
“It is very important to continue to highlight the importance of breastfeeding and our responsibility, encourage and promote exclusive breastfeeding and improve the health of babies and mothers across the world and in Nigeria’’.
Save the Children International therefore called on everyone to remember, support and take action to achieve the goals of the week, that is improving the health of infant children and promoting, protecting, and supporting the rights of women to breastfeed anywhere and at any time.
They stressed increasing breastfeeding to near-universal levels could save many lives every year, the majority being children under six months.
They had pledged to continue to support breastfeeding mother’s and encourage their families to support them through their various programmes.
