Collins Agwam About 7,000 underprivileged breastfeeding mothers living with HIV and AIDS in Nasarawa State have called on both the Federal and state governments to assist them with basic sources of livelihood to survive the current economic situation in the country. The lactating mothers said their inability to eat nutritious meals due to the hardship had contributed to the poor practice of exclusive breastfeeding and the rise in child and maternal mortality in the state. A former Coordinator of the Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS in the state, Philip Lokoko, made the position of breastfeeding mothers known during an event to mark the 2024 World Breastfeeding Week, titled “Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding for All,” in Lafia, Nasarawa, on Tuesday.
He explained that over 15,000 breastfeeding mothers had tested positive for HIV and AIDS in the state, but only 7,000 women had publicly identified themselves to seek help over the prevailing hardship in the state and the country. He said, “Most lactating mothers can hardly afford three square meals, which is a major factor contributing to the low level of breastfeeding for at least the first six months of a child’s life. “Breast milk remains the best food for the child, at least during the first six months.
If they do not have enough food to eat, they will not have the strength to breastfeed their children. “We are, therefore, appealing to the government at all levels to come to their aid and set up a special in.