The recent disclosure by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) that over 70 per cent of infants in Nigeria are denied the benefits of breast milk in their formative years has boldly underlined the declining rate of breastfeeding among nursing mothers in the country. The damning revelation came on the heels of the Federal Government’s claim that 80,000 child’s deaths could be prevented annually through optimal breastfeeding. Apart from preventing postpartum bleeding, optimal breastfeeding, the experts say, lowers a woman’s risk of breast and ovarian cancers.

The disclosure on the nation’s poor breastfeeding culture was made in a joint statement by UNICEF Executive Director, Catherine Russel and WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, on the occasion of World Breastfeeding Week, with the theme: ‘Step up for breastfeeding: Educate and Support.”

According to the report, exclusive breastfeeding rate in Nigeria is at 29 per cent, meaning that over 70 per cent of infants in Nigeria are denied the aforementioned benefits of breast milk in the formative years. The report also says that the situation has increased stunting rate among under-five children to 37 per cent. It notes that fewer than half of all newborn babies are breastfed in the first hour of life, leaving them more vulnerable to disease and death.  It reveals that only 44 per cent of infants benefitted from exclusive breastfeeding in their first six months of life, short of the World Health Assembly target of 50 per cent by 2025.

According to the report, many infants who are not exclusively breastfed in their formative years are more vulnerable to diseases and death. Lamentably, only nine per cent of organisations had a workplace breastfeeding policy, indicating that mothers lack the enabling environment to breastfeed their babies optimally.

Many reasons account for the poor breastfeeding culture in Nigeria. Apart from lack of crèches in work environment, many mothers are emotionally and physically exhausted to breastfeed their babies.  While some refuse to optimally breastfeed their babies due to ignorance, others do so for cosmetic reasons. They erroneously believe that breastfeeding their babies will make their breasts to sag. These can possibly explain why many babies are denied the benefits of adequate breastfeeding.

The importance of breastfeeding to the health and wellbeing of the child cannot be overemphasised. According to reports, breastfeeding acts as a baby’s first vaccine, protecting them from common childhood illnesses. Breastfeeding enhances the immunity of the child, nourishes the mother and makes for her quick recovery after birth. It enhances the bond between mother and child.

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According to medical experts, breast milk provides the ideal nutrition for infants. It has a nearly perfect mix of vitamins, protein, and fat – everything the baby needs to grow. Breast milk contains antibodies that help the baby fight off viruses and bacteria. It lowers the baby’s risk of having asthma or allergies.

Experience also shows that babies who are breastfed exclusively for the first six months, without any formula, have fewer ear infections, respiratory illnesses, and bouts of diarrhoea. Such babies also have fewer hospitalisations and visits to the doctor.

Breastfeeding has been linked to higher Intelligence Quotient (IQ) scores in later childhood in some studies. It increases the bonding between mother and child through the physical closeness, skin-to-skin touching, and eye contact. Breastfed infants are more likely to gain the right amount of weight as they grow rather than become overweight children.

Children should not be denied the benefits of breast milk in their formative years. Mothers who deny their babies breast milk on the assumption that breastfeeding them would make their breasts sag, should desist from such attitude. Breasts sagging after some time is a natural phenomenon which has nothing to do with breastfeeding the babies. There is need for adequate enlightenment campaign on the benefits of breastfeeding by the health authorities, community and civil society organisations across the country.

There is need to educate women on the gains of breastfeeding during antenatal sessions. They should be encouraged to practise exclusive breastfeeding at least in the first six months of the baby’s life. Let nursing mothers prioritise exclusive breastfeeding in view of its many benefits. Babies should rather be given unhindered access to their mothers’ breast milk.

We agree with WHO and UNICEF that “protecting, promoting, and supporting breastfeeding is more important than ever, not just for protecting our planet as the ultimate natural, sustainable, first food system, but also for the survival, growth and development of millions of infants.”