Mothers must breastfeed children exclusively for six months — NAFDAC

The Niger State Coordinator, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and Niger State Chairman, Breast Milk Multidisciplinary Committee, James T. Kigbu, has stressed the need for exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a child’s life.

Kigbu, who made the emphasis while interacting with journalists in Minna on Thursday, November 28, 2024, said that a multi-sectoral committee comprising representatives from the state Ministries of Information, Justice, and Women Affairs was recently inaugurated by the Director General of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, on 24th October 2024.

The Niger State committee is chaired by the state coordinator, with the agency’s office serving as the secretariat, charged with the responsibility of drawing citizens’ attention to the international code of breast milk substitutes in Nigeria.

He explained that the Niger State Breast Milk Substitute Multidisciplinary Committee had also been inaugurated to step down the campaign at the state and local council levels.

The state coordinator of NAFDAC and the committee chairman noted that the international code of marketing breast milk substitutes is a set of recommendations regulating the marketing of breast milk substitutes, pointing out that Article 11 spells out recommendations for the government, healthcare systems, healthcare givers, as well as companies.

Mr. Kigbu further stated that the code was designed by UNICEF and WHO, noting that the highlights of the code are aimed at curtailing the aggressive and spurious marketing of breast milk substitutes.

James added, “The NAFDAC Decree (15) of 1993, as amended to Decree No.1 FN 2004, is strategically empowered to implement the code,” noting that it is within this power that the agency is collaborating with various stakeholders, including state governments.

Kigbu further noted the terms of reference of the state Breast Milk Multidisciplinary Committee, which include implementing the code by leading all efforts in the state to ensure compliance, monitoring compliance with the code, sensitization, and advocacy to promote adherence to the code, curtailing the aggressive marketing or promotion of breast milk substitutes in Niger State, promoting exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a child’s life, as well as recommending appropriate sanctions for any violations.

He enjoined journalists to be familiar with the laws and regulations on marketing breast milk substitutes in the country and to reject any advertisements promoting breast milk substitute products, pointing out that NAFDAC does not issue advertisement permits for such products.

The NAFDAC State Coordinator also urged media organisations to endorse programmes that promote optimal feeding practices for infants and young children, as well as establish crèches in media houses for breastfeeding mothers.