The United Nations Childrens’ Fund (UNICEF) says the practice of exclusive breast feeding at work places and elsewhere remain the panacea to a healthy society.
This is even as wife of Cross River state governor, Mrs. Eyoanwan Edet Otu, yesterday in Calabar, alongside other partners, officially flagged off the 2024 world breastfeeding week in the metropolis.
National Compass reports that the theme for this year’s commemoration of the world’s breastfeeding week is: ‘Closing the Gap; Breastfeeding Support for All.’
In a goodwill message at the event, UNICEF’s Chief of Field Office, Enugu, Mrs. Juliet Chiluwe, said the practice of exclusive breast feeding is non-negotiable, adding that it has an indirect impact on the overall wellbeing of the society.
She emphasized the need for nursing mothers to be given all the required support to breastfeed even at work places in order to move the society forward.
While thanking the Cross River state government for organizing the 2024 breast feeding week, Chiluwe said “Finally, I want you all to remember that breast milk is the only food and drink your child needs for the first 6 months of life.
“Workplace support for breastfeeding mums is important, and making breastfeeding at work, work; makes societies work.”
She, however, decried the declining rate of breast feeding among nursing mothers in the state, calling for concerted efforts by all stakeholders to improve on it.
“UNICEF is happy to continue to collaborate with the Cross River State government to improve the lives of children and women in the state. Breastfeeding is not only the cornerstone of a child’s healthy development; it is key to achieving sustainable development goals by 2030.
“In the last 12 years, Nigeria has increased the breastfeeding rate by more than 10 percent. However, exclusive breastfeeding occurs only among 24 percent of newborns in Cross River State, which is still below the global target of at least 50% by 2025
“What this means is that 76% (i.e. almost 8 out of 10) of our children between ages 0-6 months are denied the uncontested benefits that come with exclusive breastfeeding”, Chiluwe goodwill message partly revealed.
Flagging off the week, Mrs. Otu said the current administration will not relent in her duty to ensure the overall wellbeing of every mother and child in Cross River state.
She stated that no stone will be left unturned to encourage the needed bonding between mothers and new born babies in the state through accurate and consistent practice of exclusive breasting feeding.
Represented by her SA on Programs, Apostle Dr. Mrs. Queen Eton Essien, the governor’s wife disclosed that the state government’s recent approval for a six months (6) pay maternity leave for nursing mothers underscores the importance she attaches to breastfeeding.
Mrs. Otu applauded all donor agencies and partners for identifying with the state in this year’s event, expressing joy and fulfillment for the invaluable support.
In their separate goodwill messages, representatives of both the World Health Organization (WHO) and Nutrition International, Dr. Olatunde Rebecca and Olajumoke Oladapo, respectively, stressed the importance of exclusive breastfeeding to both mother and child.
According to Olatunde, the emphasis was to ensure that mothers were free to breastfeed anywhere; be it at home, office and elsewhere in the society.
While in her message, Olajumoke reminded participants that it remains the right of every new born baby to be exclusively breast fed within the first six (6) months of existence without water and food; urging every nursing mother to maintain the standard in order to ensure their babies are strong, healthy and protected against diseases.
Earlier, in her welcome address, the Director General, Cross River Primary Health Care Development Agency (CRSPHCDA), Dr. Vivien Mesembe Otu, restated the importance of exclusive breastfeeding to both mother and child.
She said breastfeeding had been an integral part of Nigerians heritage; deeply rooted in our tradition and customs, hence, the need for all nursing mothers to embrace it.
The DG, who described breastfeeding as a corner stone of human civilization, said its benefits are quite enormous to be ignored by every informed mother.
Vivien explained that aside its nutritional value to every new born babies, exclusive breast feeding contains antibodies that protect against infection and boost immunity as well as help in brain development.
The DG partly said: “As we gather here today to celebrate, I am reminded of the profound impact breastfeeding have on our health, especially on the well-being of our infants and mothers. Since its inception, world breast feeding week had served as a crucial platform to advocate breast feeding and to make awareness about its immense benefits.
“Breastfeeding is not merely a biological process; it’s a corner stone of human civilization.
“In Nigeria, breastfeeding had been an integral part of our heritage deeply rooted in our tradition and customs. The World Health Organization unequivocally recognizes breastfeeding as an essential nutrient for infants.
“It benefits include reduced infant mortality rate, prevention against infectious diseases, malnutrition among others.”
The event, which attracted the state’s commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Ayuk, SA on health to the governor, Rt. Hon. Dr. Ekpo E. Bassey among other dignitaries, featured the presentation of several gift items including diapers to nursing mothers in attendance.
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