FG pledges support for mothers to practice exclusive breastfeeding

FG pledges support for mothers to practice exclusive breastfeeding

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, has assured lactating mothers in the country of the needed support to practice optimal breastfeeding.

Ali-Pate gave the assurance at the 2024 World Breastfeeding Week Flag-off and World Breastfeeding Record Initiative where 31,254 lactating mothers breastfed their babies.

With this, Nigeria has broken the world record for the most lactating women, exceeding the current record of 21,000 attempted by the Philippines in 2013.

The minister said the global theme of the event, ‘Closing the Gap, Breastfeeding Support for All’, underscored the collective responsibility to ensure that lactating mothers receive the support to make breastfeeding a successful and fulfilling experience.

Quoting the Global Breastfeeding Scorecard, Ali-Pate said:  “Global exclusive breastfeeding rates have increased to 48 per cent In Nigeria, according to the 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS). Only 34 per cent of children from zero to six months are exclusively breastfed. This is a far cry from the global average and the World Health Assembly target of 50 per cent by 2025.

“It is interesting to note that the same survey showed that 96.7 per cent of children are breastfed at one point or the other, while 69.6 per cent receive breast milk as the predominant source of nourishment (i.e. they receive breast milk and certain fluids like water and water-based drinks).

“This indicates that Nigerian mothers want to breastfeed but they need support to practice optimal breastfeeding as recommended,” he added.

United Nations’ Children’s Fund  (UNICEF) Country Representative, Cristian Munduate, in her goodwill message, called on stakeholders to come together to close the gap in breastfeeding inequalities by providing the enabling environment for breastfeeding mothers across the country.

Munduate also underscored the need to empower mothers with the knowledge and support to make the best choices for their children’s health.

She said despite being the foundation of lifelong health and well-being, among other proven benefits, the rate of early, exclusive and continued breastfeeding in Nigeria has remained low as a result of cultural, social and practical barriers.

She called on stakeholders, including government,  civil society organisations, policymakers, health systems, workplaces, communities, fathers and grandparents to come together to close the gap in breastfeeding inequalities in Nigeria.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom, said women need adequate support to get started and sustain optimal breastfeeding.

UNICEF Public Health Nutrition Officer and the Breastfeeding Record Facilitator, Izuchukwu Michael Offiaeli, commended breastfeeding mothers that participated in the historic event.

Offiaeli said: “While the target was to engage 30,000 lactating women, an impressive 31,254  women, along with their babies, turned out across the states and IDP camps to set a new world record for the highest number of lactating women breastfeeding simultaneously”.

Offiaeli said breast milk has over 88 per cent  water, providing all the water a baby needs.

He cautioned that giving water to babies during the first six months of life is the major barrier to improving exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rates in the country.

Offiaeli encouraged mothers to choose breast milk only for their babies in the first six months of life to ensure optimal health for their infants.