UNICEF tasks mothers to breastfeed their children to reduce Illness, Non communicable diseases

By: Ajiya Ayuba, Bauchi

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said that Breastfeeding reduces the burden of childhood illness, and the risk of certain types of cancers and non communicable diseases for mothers.

The UNICEF Nigeria’s country representative, Christian Manduate, made this known in a statement signed and issued to newsmen in Bauchi state.

The Nations News Nigeriareports that UNICEF is observing World Breastfeeding week with the theme “Closing the gap: Breastfeeding support for all,” .

It was gathered that ‘UNICEF and WHO are emphasizing the need to improve breastfeeding support as a critical action for reducing health inequity and protecting the rights of mothers and babies to survive and thrive”.

He said that in Nigeria, breastfeeding support include insufficient maternity leave policies, lack of workplace support, and inadequate access to breastfeeding education and services, particularly in rural areas”

“Breastfeeding is the foundation of lifelong health and well-being. It is a simple, cost-effective, and natural way to provide infants with the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development”

“However, despite its proven benefits, exclusive breastfeeding rates in Nigeria remain low.

“Many mothers face cultural, social, and practical barriers that prevent them from breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months of their child’s life”. During this critical period of early growth and development, the antibodies in breast milk protect babies against illness and death. This is especially important during emergencies, when breastfeeding guarantees a safe, nutritious, and accessible food source for infants and young children”

“Only seven states offer the recommended 24 weeks of paid maternity leave, and many women return to work without the necessary support to continue breastfeeding”

According to the UNICEF representative, Manduate said that “The government, employers, healthcare providers, and communities need to collaborate. Policies should also be enacted to extend paid maternity leave, create

breastfeeding-friendly workplaces, and provide comprehensive breastfeeding education and support services”

“This year, UNICEF is supporting Nigeria in setting the world record for the highest number of lactating mothers breastfeeding simultaneously. While 30,000 mothers will breastfeed their

babies across all 36 states in Nigeria and the FCT on August 1st, 2024″

“This initiative not only aims for a record but also seeks to draw attention to the importance of breastfeeding,

as well as challenge harmful nutrition norms and practices, specifically the introduction of water and other pre-lactal feeds during the first six months of a baby’s life”

He further said that monitoring systems will help boost the effectiveness of breastfeeding policies and programmes, inform better decision-making, and ensure support systems can be adequately financed.

“When breastfeeding is protected and supported, women are more than twice as likely to breastfeed their infants. This is a shared responsibility”

“In the last 12 years, the number of infants under six months of age who are exclusively breastfed in Nigeria has increased by more than 10 per cent.

Today, 34 percent of infants in Nigeria benefit from this healthy start in life, translating to hundreds of thousands of babies whose lives have been saved by breastfeeding”

While the significant leap brings people closer to the World Health Organization target of increasing exclusive breastfeeding to at least 50 per cent by 2025, there are persistent challenges that must be addressed.

He call on Families, communities, healthcare workers, policymakers, and other decision-makers all play a central role of Increasing investment in programmes and policies that protect and support breastfeeding through dedicated national budgets.

Also Implementing and monitoring family friendly workplace policies, such as paid of maternity leave, breastfeeding breaks and access to affordable and good-quality childcare. To also ensured that mothers who are at-risk in emergencies receive breastfeeding protection and support in line with their unique needs, including timely, effective breastfeeding counselling as part of routine health coverage.