The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has emphasized the importance of exclusive breastfeeding, highlighting its potential to boost the Intelligence Quotient (IQ) of children.
Speaking at the 2024 World Breastfeeding Week celebration in Lagos, NAFDAC’s Director, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, who was represented by the Director of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (FSAN), Mrs. Eva Edwards, urged nursing mothers to prioritize breastfeeding to enhance the health of their newborns and reduce the risk of breast and ovarian cancers.
Prof. Adeyeye stressed the benefits of breastfeeding, stating, “Breastfed babies have stronger immunity and a reduced risk of suffering from many childhood illnesses and infections. Additionally, exclusive breastfeeding is associated with higher IQ levels in infants.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends initiating breastfeeding within one hour of birth, exclusively breastfeeding for the first six months, and continuing breastfeeding alongside complementary foods up to two years or beyond. The theme of this year’s celebration, “Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All,” focuses on the need to improve breastfeeding support, particularly in times of emergencies and crises, to reduce health inequities.
Adeyeye noted that while 97 percent of children in Nigeria are breastfed at some point, only 42 percent are breastfed within the first hour of birth. Furthermore, the proportion of children aged 0-6 months who are exclusively breastfed stands at 34 percent, a figure that still falls short of the WHO’s target of 50 percent by 2025.
“This calls for collective action to accelerate progress and promote optimal breastfeeding practices to save the lives of our children and mothers,” she said.
As part of the commemoration, NAFDAC also inaugurated the Lagos State Breastmilk Substitute (BMS) Multisectoral Technical Committee and Advocacy Team. This initiative aligns with the 5-year National Strategy for the Implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes in Nigeria (2021-2025), which aims to promote optimal breastfeeding practices and curb the inappropriate marketing of breastmilk substitutes.
Adeyeye concluded by emphasizing the critical role of support systems in successful breastfeeding, stating, “When mothers receive the support they need to breastfeed their babies, everyone benefits, and everyone wins.” She called for continued appreciation and support for breastfeeding mothers to ensure a fulfilling breastfeeding experience.
