The Federal Government has said that only 29 per cent of infants under age six months are exclusively breastfed, while only 42 per cent are put to breast within the first hour of birth.
The Federal Government made this known in a press statement signed by the Director of media at the Federal Ministry of Health, Patricia Deworitshe, in commemoration of the 2023 World Breastfeeding Week.
The government, however, said to achieve a higher impact on malnutrition reduction, the coverage of nutrition-specific interventions among the targeted population should be 80 per cent and above.
The WBW is a yearly global campaign that aims to increase awareness of the health and well-being outcomes of breastfeeding on infants, young children, mothers, families, and society at large from August 1 to 7.
The global theme for this year’s WBW is ‘Enable breastfeeding, making a difference for working parents,” which focuses on breastfeeding and employment.
“In Nigeria, only 29 per cent of the infants under age six months were found to be exclusively breastfed, while only 42 per cent were put to breast within the first hour of birth. To achieve a higher impact on malnutrition reduction such as stunting, the coverage of nutrition-sensitive and nutrition-specific interventions among the targeted population should be 80 per cent and above.
“The known identified challenges that hinder breastfeeding of infants in the country among others include inadequate knowledge among mothers on the benefits of breastmilk, myths surrounding breastfeeding, early return to work after childbirth, lack of a conducive breastfeeding environment, especially for working mothers, aggressive marketing of breastmilk substitutes, among others.
“Breastfeeding is the right of both the mother and the child. However, for working mothers in Nigeria, balancing the demands of their careers with the desire to breastfeed can be challenging. In addition to working outside the home, many Nigerian women have to perform time-consuming, often arduous domestic chores including cooking and laundry to maintain the household; and they also have to breastfeed their children,” the statement read in part.
The FMoH recommends early initiation of breastfeeding within an hour of birth, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life continued breastfeeding up to two years of age or beyond, with the introduction of appropriate complementary food from six months.
“The Ministry also wishes to emphasise that working places should be made conducive to encourage breastfeeding as this will enhance productivity for these mothers while assuring their nurturing role. Presently, women employed in the federal civil service are entitled to 16 weeks of paid maternity leave and when they return to work, they have two hours off a day to breastfeed till six months.
“The Civil Service has extended this to the men, with 14 days paternity leave. Under the Labour Act, mothers employed outside of the public sector are entitled to 12 weeks of maternity leave. They are entitled to half pay if they’ve worked for their employer for at least six months.
“It is no doubt that breastfeeding is important both to the mother and the child, a practice that all fathers, family members, and society should support without fail. Breastmilk is very nutritious and builds the immunity of the baby.
“It also protects babies from common diseases such as diarrhea and pneumonia. Much more, the bonding between mother and baby during breastfeeding improves the emotional and social development of the child,” it added.