The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration (NAFDAC) has advised nursing mothers to embrace exclusive breastfeeding as a means to enhance the health of their newborns.
This counsel was shared by Mrs. Josephine Dayilim, the North West Director of NAFDAC, during a one-day workshop on the ban on promoting breast milk substitutes in Kaduna.
The workshop, organized by NAFDAC in collaboration with the Carelink Resource Foundation, highlighted the importance of educating nursing mothers about the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding.
Dayilim stressed the need to sensitize stakeholders about the potential dangers associated with using breast milk substitutes for infants.
She mentioned that there exists a code specifically prohibiting the inappropriate marketing and advertising of breast milk substitutes.
This code also extends to the promotion of such products. Dayilim called on stakeholders to adhere to these guidelines and encouraged them to spread awareness about exclusive breastfeeding within their communities.
Dayilim expressed her appreciation for the efforts of the workshop’s participants in raising public awareness about the significance of embracing exclusive breastfeeding.
Among the attendees were representatives from various organizations, including the National Union of Road Transport Workers, traditional leaders, and health workers, who committed to adhering to the code and implementing it within their respective spheres.