Lagos decries 28% exclusive breastfeeding rate

• Introduced extended six months maternity leave, two weeks paternity holiday to boost practice

Lagos State government has said that part of the reasons why it extended maternity leave from three months to six and introduced two weeks paternity leave was to encourage exclusive breastfeeding.

Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Primary Healthcare, Dr. Olufemi Onanuga, during events to mark 2016 World Breastfeeding Week, said about 50 to 60 per cent of under-five mortality cases are largely due to malnutrition, caused by poor breastfeeding practices and inadequate complementary feeding.

Onanuga said the national figure of 17 per cent, according to the National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) 2013, as exclusive breastfeeding rate, is very low.

He said the Lagos State figure of 28 per cent is still low and calls for the collective efforts of all stakeholders. Statistics had shown that only 22.6 per cent of children were breastfed within one day of birth while 25.9 per cent of children born in Lagos State were breastfed appropriately.

Onanuga explained: “The practice of exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of life and the introduction of adequate complementary diet till the first two years of life are integral part to child survival and optimal growth. Our future is in our hands, which can be guaranteed with the provision adequate diet to children for optimal brain growth.

“It is for this reason that the State Government institutionalize the extension of the maternity leave to six months and also introduced two weeks paternity leave. Every wise nursing mother is expected make effective use of this long holiday to exclusively breastfeed her babies.”

Onanuga added: “Customarily, Lagos State will be joining other States of the federation to sensitize the public on adequate nutrition for children from the time they are born till they attain the age of five years. This is in fulfillment of the Federal Government’s obligation being signatory to the Innocent Declaration of 1990. It is important to stress that the practice of exclusive breastfeeding is one of the Child Survival Strategies that has been proven by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) and endorsed by Federal Government of Nigeria.

“It is for this reason that the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action, United Nations Children Fund and World Health Organization (WHO) set aside a week annually as the ‘World Breastfeeding Week’ which advocates to the public on the need to practice exclusive breastfeeding for babies for the first six months of life.”

The practice of exclusive breast feeding will ensure the provision of vital and adequate nutrients required for healthy and maximal growth and development. Babies who are exclusively breastfed are protected from severe complications arising childhood killer diseases such as diarrhoea and pneumonia to mention a few. They also become healthy and productive adults.”

He added: “Collectively, we must ensure the survival of our children to guaranty our tomorrow. The efforts of this administration are geared towards the promotion maternal and child survival strategies. Exclusively breastfed children are known to develop immunity against childhood killer diseases and ultimately become healthy adults that will positively contribute to the work force required for sustainable development.”