ENSURING COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY TO SUPPORT BREASTFEEDING MOTHERS IS THE FOCUS OF TODAY’S VIEWPOINT. IT IS WRITTEN BY HEAD OF EDITORIAL UNIT YETUNDE OKE.
As Nigeria joins the global community to commemorate 2024 world breastfeeding week, from 1st to 7th of august, the need to celebrate and tackle challenges facing breastfeeding mothers through their breastfeeding journeys have been re-emphasised.
Adequate and exclusive breastfeeding of babies is crucial and evidence has shown that exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life decreases the risk of malnutrition and death in infants.
According to the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 2018, only 29 percent of mothers in Nigeria exclusively breastfeed their infants.
This is lower than the 70% of African countries that have high rates of continued breastfeeding at one year.
Researchers have also shown that, unregulated donation of breast milk substitutes combined with lack of access to clean and safe water during emergencies place infants at higher risk of malnutrition and mortality.
Meanwhile, this year’s world breastfeeding week with the theme ‘closing the gap, breastfeeding support for all,’ underscores the collective responsibility to embrace and support breastfeeding mothers through diverse and comprehensive measures and policies.
The annual celebration would increase awareness of the importance of breastfeeding, share information on strategies and promote enabling environments that support women to breastfeed successfully.
This year’s celebration presents another opportunity for all stakeholders, governments, civil society organisations, health systems, workplaces, communities, and parents to reinforce a collective commitment towards ensuring that all mothers are supported during breastfeeding.
Particularly those who are vulnerable or affected by crises and emergencies.
It is worthy of note that the federal government has initiated policies and programmes towards addressing challenges related to infant and young child feeding practices and the Breast Milk Substitute (BMS) Code.
Some states have also commenced the implementation of six-month paid maternity leave for working mothers in the civil service, this is commendable, but more still need to be done.
According to the Country Director, Save the Children International Nigeria, Duncan Harvey, early initiation of breastfeeding promotes not only infant survival, but the recovery of the mother and establishment of successful breastfeeding.
Harvey stated that by working together, the world can provide the necessary support for mothers and create an environment where breastfeeding is encouraged and facilitated, leading to healthier children and stronger societies.
Also, Head of Health and Nutrition, Save the Children International Nigeria, Dr Ayan Seal, advocated involvement of local voices in the development of support programmes that can promote better health outcomes for mothers and infants.
Furthermore, breastfeeding is a collective effort of all and to support breastfeeding mothers, policies and programmes that ensure mothers have access to good nutrition must be implemented.
This includes creating a breastfeeding-friendly healthcare system and investing in training healthcare workers.
Healthcare workers, providers, and volunteers should be equipped with adequate capacity support to offer breastfeeding counselling and accurate information on child nutrition.
Breastfeeding mothers’ in times of crises and emergencies should also have access to adequate support and opportunities.
In conclusion, all tiers of government must take urgent steps towards domesticating and implementing Breast Milk Substitute (BMS) Code which kicks against the marketing of all products that function as breast milk substitutes.
