The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that breastfeeding is a powerful line of defense against diseases and all forms of child malnutrition and wasting.
According to the Organisation, less than 50 percent of the babies are breastfed in the first hour of life.
WHO Emergency Manager in Northeast, Dr. Richard Lako disclosed this yesterday, (Tuesday) during the flag off of the 2022 World Breastfeeding Week in Maiduguri, Borno State.
He said that breastfeeding is an important factor, particularly in the setting of an emergency that guarantees safe, nutritious and accessible food sources for babies and young children.
The breastfeeding week themed: “Set Up for Breastfeeding and Educating Support,” acts as the baby’s first vaccine to protect them from common child illnesses.
“Certain factors such as emotional stress, physical exhaustion, lack of space and privacy and poor sanitation experienced by mothers in emergency setting; led to many babies missing the benefits of breastfeeding,” he said, adding that it helps the children to survive.
He warned that babies are more vulnerable to diseases and death.
Besides, he added that 44% of infants are only exclusively breastfed in the first six months of life, lamenting that; “This is below the WHO’s target of 50 percent by 2025.”
He therefore called on donor governments, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and private sectors to invest in breastfeeding and support on equipped healthcare centres and nutritional workers.
According to him, the support should include counselling of mothers on breastfeeding their children.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Chief of Maiduguri Field Office, Samuel Sesay also disclosed: “Exclusive breastfeeding plays an important role in managing the double burden of malnutrition and food insecurity.”
He explained that it provides children the best start in life and the foundation for children to grow and nations to prosper.
“A study by UNICEF and the Ministry of Health in 2017 showed that inadequate and low rates of breastfeeding leads to 10 million avoidable cases of childhood diarrhea and pneumonia,” he said, adding that more than 100,000 child deaths were also recorded during the period under review.
He noted that the investment of N1, 000 in supporting optimal breastfeeding can earn about N35, 000 to the economy of the country.
Other benefits of breastfeeding include a decrease in the risks of breast and ovarian cancer, depression, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and type 2-diabetes.
He said that infants breastfed have a decreased risk of atopic dermatitis and gastroenteritis and have a higher Intelligent Quotient later in life.
Flagging off the breastfeed week, the wife of the Governor, Dr. Falmata Babagana Zulum, disclosed: “The 2018 National Demographic Health Survey revealed an alarming 75% of women giving births at home,” lamenting that the practice deprived them the opportunities for education, counselling and support by health professionals.
Falmata, represented by the Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Development, Zuwaira Gambo, said: “With the support of development partners, the exclusive breastfeeding rate stood at 59 percent in the state,” stating that it doubled the national average of 29 percent.
She said that only two out of five babies are being breastfed and remains at 44.4 percent and below the WHO target of over 50%.
“The critical breastfeeding gap must be addressed to achieve the state’s goal of 100 percent breastfeeding of babies,” she said.
