As Nigeria joins the world to commemorate the World Breastfeeding Week, the Lagos State Government has called for support and protection for breastfeeding mothers as it stresses the significance of appropriate breastfeeding practices to child survival.

 Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Public Health, Dr. Yewande Adeshina, noted that the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Actions (WABA) has considered that everyone in the world should protect and encourage every breastfeeding mother for an effective and pleasant breastfeeding experience.

Dr Adeshina added that, everybody should all be committed to promoting exclusive breastfeeding, during which nothing except the mother’s breast milk is introduced to the mouth of the baby as a child survival intervention that is unequaled.

She appealed to everyone to commit to supporting and protecting every breastfeeding mother they are opportune to come in contact with, to encourage every young adult and aspiring parents to choose early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding for their children and to encourage every grandparents and parents in-law, including every member of the community to protect and stand up for breastfeeding. 

While stressing that optimal development and growth of children depend on breastfeeding, the Special Adviser noted that the Lagos State Government, since 1991 till date had effected several programmes and activities to promote the idea of breastfeeding practices.

Said she, “some of these activities include consistent State commemoration of the world breastfeeding week since 1991 with activities such as press briefing, training of health workers; both public and private on essentials of breastfeeding actions, production and distribution of posters and handbills, production of key messages booklets on breastfeeding for community sensitization, awareness creation at mosques and churches, television and radio appearances, motorized rallies, and production and airing of jingles”.

Others are; training and re-orientation of local government area nutrition focal persons, their assistants, Apex nurses on Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding; family enlightenment breastfeeding seminars held for NYSC corps members, community leaders, and traditional leaders; and establishment of Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) Support Groups in the Community in continuous support of baby-friendly initiative.

“The State Government has also resolved to further support parenting and child survival by instituting a new policy for parent-employee of 24 weeks maternity leave for female officers, and 10 working days for male officers in respect of their first two deliveries with full pay, while the old rule applies to the 3rd and subsequent children”, She noted. 

Adeshina added that this new policy is intended to further help in protecting, supporting and promoting commitment to early initiation in breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding practice and overall success of infant and young child feeding in the State.

According to the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Public Health, Dr. Yewande Adeshina who briefed the Press on Thursday, the week long event will take place from the 1st to 7th August 2014, at all health facilities in the local government areas and local council development areas in the State. 

She explained that these health facilities are expected to provide maternal and child survival services, with particular emphasis on the promotion and support for early initiation of Breastfeeding within thirty minutes of delivery, exclusive breastfeeding practice, continuous breastfeeding with complementary feeding from 6 months of age to two years and beyond, along with other breastfeeding issues and practices during the week long event.

“During the week long exercise, local government areas and Local council development areas in the State would be visited by representatives of the State Ministry of Health and Primary Health Care Board towards the identification and selection of best LGA or LCDA in nutrition service delivery, particularly as it relates to breastfeeding promotion, support and protection”, Adeshina noted. 

The Special Adviser added that the activities of the Community Health & Nutrition (CH&N) Link, which is also known as ‘Malnutrition trackers’ would be assessed for the selection of outstanding CH&N Link while awards for both categories will be presented at the Grand Finale of the weeklong celebration.

“Our traditional grand finale is tentatively scheduled for Thursday 11th September, 2014 during which state Breastfeeding Champions; Male & Female selected from among the 57 LGAs and LCDAs champions will be crowned.

"The selection criteria of the state Champions will include among others, knowledge of breastfeeding issues with emphases on early initiation, exclusive breastfeeding, and appropriate positioning and attachment to breastfeeding as effectively demonstrated by mothers”, she explained.

She reiterated that breastfeeding,  particularly with early initiation; within 30 minutes of delivery and exclusive breastfeeding without water or any other drink is the most ideal infant feeding option for every new born as colostrums; the first milk from the mother is the baby’s first immunization.