By Halima Garba
A Bauchi based Civil Society Organization (CSO) Journalists for Public Health and Development Initiative (J4PD) has called on Nigerian Government at all levels and other Non State actors to increase investment in the promotion of exclusive breastfeeding .
J4PD also advocated for continuous education on the health benefits inherent in exclusive breastfeeding of infants as a pathway to mitigating malnutrition among children.
These calls were contained in a press statement by J4PD issued by the Knowledge Management and Communication (KMC) Advisor of the CSO, Bashir Hassan Abubakar , to commemorate the 2024 World Breastfeeding Week (WBW).
The CSO further advocated for accelerated implementation of the Six months paid maternity leave for nursing/lactating mothers across the country stressing that, such policy, when fully implemented at both National and Subnational levels, would enhance exclusive breastfeeding of infants for healthy growth and development in the first 1000 days of life.
According to the statement, nursing /lactating mothers would focus more on breastfeeding their newborns knowing that they won’t have to worry with the rigors of official duties that may impede the nurturing of their babies in the first Six months.
“Six months exclusive breastfeeding in the life of an infant plays a major part in fortifying the child against diseases and ensuring the intake of all nutritional needs of the child through breast milk. It is the first line of defense against malnutrition in children”.
“Allowing mothers to concentrate on their newborns without having to worry about going to the office, would enhance exclusive breastfeeding and ensure healthy start of children in our communities”, J4PD’ Coordinator Elizabeth Kah, stated.
J4PD further stated that, though there has been an improvement in the culture of exclusive breastfeeding in Nigeria in the last few years, the progression is slow and, that if Nigeria is to attain the WHO 50 percent target in exclusive breastfeeding by 2025 , both State and Non State actors need to sustain the campaign for exclusive breastfeeding, especially in the rural areas.
J4PD further reiterated its commitment to collaborating with stakeholders in carrying out such campaigns ,aimed at strengthening and promoting exclusive breastfeeding.
The theme for this year’s WBW “Closing the Gaps. Breastfeeding support for all” beams searchlight on factors militating against exclusive breastfeeding and the need to address such gaps through investments in healthcare services, paid maternity leave, establishing breastfeeding-friendly workplaces and continues education on exclusive breastfeeding.