Posted on: Wed 04-08-2021

A call has gone to all stakeholders spread across the nooks and crannies of the country to as a matter of urgency put in place relevant structures and   systems that will protect and support breastfeeding.

The call which came via a press statement issued by the leadership of Development Communications Network , also called on the stakeholders to create awareness on the benefits of breastfeeding to the child, mother, father and community to increase in the rate of exclusive breastfeeding.

Signed by network Program Director, Akin Jimoh, they called for the immediate creation of conducive environment and support, which according to them includes a child-friendly work environment, with a dedicated nursing room for nursing mothers.

Putting this in place, the group believed will make breastfeeding convenient and enjoyable to both breastfeeding mothers and their children.

Creating the much desired conducive environment, as further stated by tbem , will go a long way to help in aiding " the prevention of childhood illness and promote healthy growth and development"

They opined  that"breast milk is essential and has lots of benefits both to the mother and baby, it supplies all the necessary nutrients in the proper proportions".

To further press home their demands "breastfed babies" they said " have healthier weights as they grow, they score higher on IQ tests" stressing that "breast milk protects against allergies, sickness, infections and obesity and is easily digested"

Citing the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (2018 NDHS) that stated that child mortality accounts for 52% of all under-five deaths, poor infant feeding practices, he said negatively affect the growth, health and development of children, adding that " it is a major cause of mortality in infants and young children."

The group who went ahead to Argued that research has shown that mothers who breastfeed have a reduced risk of Type 2 Diabetes and certain cancers such as breast cancer, breastfeeding mothers, as affirmed by them "may find it easier to return to what they weighed before they got pregnant and it strengthens the bond with their children.

Calling for all hands to be on deck , the  stressed that "it is paramount to note that breastfeeding, especially exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of infancy is important and has many advantages" emphasizing that it "should be a shared responsibility at all levels."

By Charles Akpeji

---

---