United Nations International Children Education Fund (UNICEF) has canvassed for an improved rate in exclusive breastfeeding in Kwara state, saying that the current obtainable 58% as against global target of 70% rate should be improved upon.
Speaking during the flag off World Brest feeding Week in Ilorin on Thursday, the UNICEF chief of field office Kaduna, Gerida Birukila lamented that many mothers face cultural, social, and practical barriers that prevent them from breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months of their child’s life.
Represented by the Kwara state nutrition officer, Dr. Gbenga Bankole, the UNICEF officer said that, though, the rate of exclusive breastfeeding had improved over the years in the country, emphasised that breastfeeding is the foundation of lifelong health and well-being.
“It is a simple, cost-effective, and natural way to provide infants with the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development. However, despite its proven benefits, exclusive breastfeeding rates, though improved over the years, could be increased from (58%) currently (MICS2021),” he said.
He also reiterated UNICEF’s commitment to supporting Kwara state government in its journey towards better child health and nutrition, saying that the event should be a milestone in the collective efforts to ensure that every child has the best start in life.
“We must note that to reap dividends from this celebration, awareness creation for breastfeeding should not end this week but must be a sustained action,” he said.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Kwara State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Nusirat Elelu, said that the state has the highest rate of exclusive breastfed babies in the North Central part of the country.
She put the rate at 57.6 per cent “which is the highest in the North Central zone and higher than the national average of 34.4 per cent.
“The state is poised to surpass the target of 70 per cent by 2030 through several interventions and enabling environment provided by the state government.”
Represented by Director of Primary Health in the ministry of Health, Dr. Michael Oguntoye, Dr. Elelu added that the state government “is committed to promoting breastfeeding and other nutritional interventions to curb the scourge of malnutrition.”
In her remarks, wife of the state Governor Olufolake Abdulrazaq said that “our governor was one of the first to approve six months of maternity leave for civil servants in the country thereby setting the stage for children to be exclusively breastfed.
“I urge all stakeholders in the state including political, traditional and community leaders, leaders in the private sector and indeed every Kwaran and Nigerian at large to take responsibility and join hands to raise awareness of the huge benefits of breastfeeding and support mothers to practice optimal breastfeeding for the good of our dear state and Nigeria,” she said.
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