Hadiza Ibrahim
Proper and exclusive breastfeeding, especially during the first six months of a baby’s life, can help prevent malnutrition in children, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Health District II, Dr. Dayo Lajide, has said.
Dr. Lajide, who superintends over primary health facilities in Shomolu, Kosofe and Ikorodu Local Government Areas (LGAs), made the statement while speaking at the flag-off ceremonies of 2023 World Breastfeeding Week activities championed by the First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. (Mrs.) Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, at the Ogudu Primary Healthcare Centre in Kosofe LGA and Ita-Elewa PHC in Ikorodu LGA.
A press statement signed by the Director, Public Affairs (LSMOH), Tunbosun Ogunbanwo, on Saturday, disclosed that she also noted that the fight against malnutrition in children can only be won when all children are exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life, followed by adequate complementary feeding alongside breast feeding for up to two years of age.
According to her, about 60 percent of under-five mortalities are largely due to malnutrition caused by poor breastfeeding practices and inadequate complementary feeding.
While noting that breastfeeding still remains the most cost-effective strategy to address malnutrition and improve child health indices, she stated: ”Breast milk is readily available, pure, safe, and in the right mixture and adequate for babies. Breast milk adds no economic burden on households income because it is freely given by nature. It is important to reiterate that breastfeeding is the key to sustainable development goals.”
Lajide who recounted her Breastfeeding experience as a working parent, urged employers of labour and employees to create and sustain breastfeeding-friendly environment for working mothers adding that the benefits and importance of proper and exclusive breastfeeding cannot be overemphasised.
“Breastfeeding is the right of every baby, and an enabling environment remains the exclusive right of both the mother and the child,” she said, adding that the Lagos State Government approved six months maternity leave for mothers, and two weeks paternity leave for the first two pregnancies for fathers as part of efforts to support proper and exclusive breastfeeding practice, leading to a high contribution to the exclusive breastfeeding data.