The Brodas Across Nigeria a Non-Governmental Organisation has urged nursing mothers to make exclusive breastfeeding a top priority to reduce the child mortality rate.
According to the Osun State Chapter of the Organisation, 60 percent of under-five deaths happen as a result of malnutrition brought on by poor breastfeeding practices.
The Brodas Across Nigeria Non-Governmental Organisation stated this on Wednesday at the Adeti Maternity Health centre Ilesa, Osun state when donating some relief materials to nursing mothers and medical personeels to celebrate the 2022 World Breastfeeding Week.
Speaking at the occasion, the Chairman Osun State Chapter of Brodas Across Nigeria, Mr. Kingsley Odjegba, stressed the significance of breastfeeding, noting that it is crucial since it avoids babies from cravings and malnutrition.
He included that children are expected to be exclusively breastfed for the very first six months of life, worrying that neglecting this puts them at risk of complications.
Odjegba said, “Breastfeeding prevents appetite and malnutrition in all its forms and makes sure food security for children. It is readily available, pure, safe and in the best mixture, and appropriate for babies.
” Exclusive Breastfeeding is understood to safeguard children from serious issues emerging from gastro-enteritis, pneumonia, and other youth killer illness.
” The significance of breastfeeding as a child survival method, particularly in the first 6 months of life is understood to be the driver for enhancing maternal and child health indices. Because it is easily offered by nature, breast milk adds no financial concern on household income.
” Though Osun State fares much better in breastfeeding information, such as exclusive breastfeeding rate which is 50.5 per cent (NDHS 2021) compared to the National figure of 35 per cent (NDHS 2018).
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” However, there is still a lot of work to be done by all of us to get to the National target of 65 per cent by the year 2022,” the Chairman said.
Odjegba even more stated that the state government’s reaffirmation of the provision and sustenance of a breastfeeding-friendly environment was in line with the theme for the year 2022 World Breastfeeding Week, “Step Up for Breastfeeding: Educate and Support.”
He said the style was specifically selected to describe the state’s concentrate on strengthening the capability of actors that need to protect, promote and support breastfeeding across different levels of Society.
” The main action plan is to inform people about their function in strengthening the warm chain of support for breastfeeding; to anchor breastfeeding as part of good nutrition, food security, and decrease of inequalities; to engage with people and organisations along the warm chain of breastfeeding assistance and to galvanize actions on reinforcing the capacity of actors and systems for transformational change.”
Odjegba required the cooperation of all people, stating that the battle against malnutrition is a cumulative duty and not a one-man task.
“All hands must be on deck to guarantee that all nursing mothers are supported to provide the meal which nature has supplied at no cost, pure, safe, and in the right mix sufficient for infants.
“The battle versus poor nutrition in kids can just be won through collective efforts of all residents, all residents require to guarantee that all kids are exclusively breastfed for the 1st six months of life, and thereafter followed by sufficient complementary feeding with continued Breast Feeding for up to 2 years of age,” he encouraged.
“I, therefore, prompt our Executive Chairmen for LGAs/LCDAs, Community and Religious leaders, Market Women Associations, Professional Bodies, Parents, Elite Groups, and Community Based Organisations to actively support our nursing mothers in the community to efficiently breastfeed their babies,” Odjegba emphasized.