UNICEF expresses worry over exclusive breastfeeding in C’River

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has expressed concern over Nigeria’s 2018 Demographic and Health Survey findings that 92 per cent of children under six months are not exclusively breastfed in Cross River State.

UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Enugu, Mrs. Juliet Chiluwe, stated this at an event tagged ‘Advocacy/Sensitisation of Women in Policy Positions and Wives of Political Leaders on Breastfeeding and the Code of Breast milk Substitutes and Launch of Zero Water Campaign (Start Strong)’ at the weekend, in Calabar.

She said findings also revealed that only 23 per cent of babies were breastfed within one hour of birth, while approximately eight per cent were exclusively breastfed for six months.

“What this means is that almost 92 per cent of all children between zero to six months are not exclusively breastfed in Cross River. These children, who are not exclusively breastfed, are denied the uncontested benefits that come with Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF),” she said.

While charging stakeholders to make a commitment that would strengthen and promote baby-friendly policies in the state, the UNICEF representative worried that children, who are not exclusively breastfed, are denied the uncontested benefits that come with EBF.

She added: “The World Health Assembly (WHA) target is to increase the EBF rate in the first six months of life to, at least, 50 per cent by 2025. However, if breastfeeding trajectory continues at the current rate in the state and country, it goes without saying that achieving the WHA target will be a mirage.”

Chiluwe noted that COVID-19 altered the dynamics of optimal breastfeeding through its secondary effect on household livelihood and perception of its safeness for both the mother and the child and undue exploitation of the pandemic by producers of breast milk substitutes.

She stressed the need for commitment from the state government to build a generation of healthy children with few suggestions, among others, to “strengthen policy provisions that support maternity leave for six months in the public sector, and the provision of crèches as well as an enabling environment for breastfeeding in the private sector to encourage more working mothers to breastfeed their babies.

“Increased funding to implement the zero water campaign across local councils at a scale and intensity needed to yield the desired results and commencing and revitalising the revised baby-friendly initiative in facilities, workplaces and communities in Cross River.”

Speaking shortly after her investiture ceremony as ‘Nutrition Champion’, wife of the state governor, Rev. Eyoanwan Otu, assured UNICEF of her support and commitment to achieving the desired goal.

Chairman, Cross River State House of Assembly Committee on Women Affairs, Rita Ayim, and member, House Committee on Appropriation, Martins Atado, promised to give their necessary support to promote policies on exclusive breastfeeding and nutrition.