By NAN
The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has called on nursing mothers to engage in exclusive breastfeeding, to boost the immunity of their babies and lower the risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
He made the call on Tuesday in Abuja at the inauguration of the activities marking the World Breastfeeding Week and the Launch of Breastfeeding Advocacy Initiative (BAI).
The theme of the week-long week is ”Sustaining Breastfeeding Together.”
According to the minster, breastfeeding is the first natural immunisation for the infants and a critical stage for the development of the child.
Adewole said not only breastfeeding lowered the risk of cancers, it also helped in developing the child and becoming healthy.
He said exclusive breastfeeding was one of the effective proven strategies to combat malnutrition and other related conditions that contributed to infant and morbidity and mortality in young children.
”Improved breastfeeding practices can also prevent nearly half of all diarrhoea episodes and help all respiratory infections.
”Adequate nutritional practices which begin with breastfeeding is the best way of providing newborn, infants and young children with the best nutrients they need for healthy growth and development.
”Virtually all mothers can breastfeed, provided they have accurate information and the support of their family, healthcare system, and society at large,” he said.
According to Adewole, Breastfeeding Advocacy Initiative (BAI) is aimed at attracting media coverage for the dissemination of two new research findings.
According to him, the two research findings are: ”An investment case for breastfeeding, building upon the World Bank investment framework, and including country level data about the costs of not breastfeeding.
”A scorecard, assessing country level progress on reaching the seven policy recommendations outlined in the BAI Call to Action to protect, promote and support breastfeeding, with indicators and targets.
”It is hoped that this dissemination and expected media attention will reinforce coverage for the purposes of advocacy for greater political commitment and investments.
The minister urged stakeholders, including government, institutions, development partners and donor partners to increase political commitments and financial investments for breastfeeding.
Adewole, however, also called on nursing mothers to give 100 per cent to exclusive breastfeeding.
”When infants do not receive the benefits of breastfeeding, their immune system are weaker, healthcare cost higher and as adults, it reduces intellectual ability and limits their productivity.” (NAN)
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