Date: 2021-08-04

The Executive Secretary of Kwara Primary Health Care Development Agency (KWSPHCDA), ) Dr Nusirat Elelu, has said that only 35 per cent of children in the state are breastfed with colostrum in the first 60 minutes of life.

Elelu stated this on Tuesday at a news conference in Ilorin organised by the Ministry of Health to mark the 2021 World Breastfeeding Week (WBW).

The event is marked annually between Aug. 1 and Aug. 7, to raise more public awareness on the health benefits of breastfeeding.

According to her, the data from the state suggest that 35 per cent is lower than the national average target of 39 per cent.

She said that the theme of the 2021 WBW is: "Protect Breastfeeding: A Shared Responsibility".

She observed that the week served as an opportunity to emphasise the importance of protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding among mothers in 170 countries of the world.

Elelu noted that the progress made over the years in encouraging women to ensure exclusive breastfeeding had been under threat "due to aggressive marketing of breast milk substitutes", which continues to discourage women from breastfeeding.

She lamented that this is putting both children and women's health at risk.

"Nigeria is one of the countries that has adopted the International Code of Marketing of Breast milk Substitute, which is meant to forestall the threat of breast milk substitute," she said.

The KWSPHCDA boss called for the need to increase the awareness of health workers on the code to ensure its enforcement.

The executive secretary also pointed out that breastfeeding encourages bonding between mother and babies, while emphasising on the nutrients needed by the children during their first six months.

"Feeding complementary foods within the first six months will have the adverse effect of reducing breast milk output because of the production and release of breast milk are modulated by the frequency and intensity of suckling," she added.

Dr Michael Oguntoye, the Director, Primary Healthcare in the Ministry of Health, emphasised that breast milk is cheap and prevents "catastrophic health expenditure", which can impoverish the family.

He explained that infant formulas don't come cheap and are not even sufficient for babies.

Oguntoye assured that the ministry would work together with other partners and ministries to ensure that conducive place is created for mothers in all spheres to breastfeed their babies without inconveniences. (NAN)