Janet Ogundepo To ensure lactating mothers receive adequate support, the Founder and Executive Director of Child Health Advocacy Initiative, Elizabeth Alonge, has called for the creation of breastfeeding-friendly environments in healthcare facilities, workplaces and communities. In a statement to PUNCH Healthwise commemorating World Breastfeeding Week, the child health advocate noted that lack of access to accurate information, insufficient support from the community, spouse and family as well as cultural beliefs were barriers to breastfeeding in Nigeria. She also challenged the notion that breastfeeding in public is shameful and embarrassing, advocating for the provision of lactation rooms in offices and public places.
“Breastfeeding can be promoted and encouraged by promoting breastfeeding education and awareness, organising community outreach programs and workshops to educate mothers and families about the importance of breastfeeding and this should be done using local languages and contexts to communicate the benefits of breastfeeding. “Engage community leaders and influencers, support breastfeeding-friendly environments by encouraging employers to provide lactation rooms and flexible work arrangements for breastfeeding mothers, engage husbands and family members in breastfeeding education and support, and encourage them to be involved in caring for the baby,” Alonge said. WBW is celebrated annually from August 1st to 7th, to raise awareness and promote the benefits of breastfeeding.
This year’s theme is “Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All.” In honour of the WBW, the World Health Organisation and the United Nations Children’s Fund, on August 1, called for an improvement in global breastfeeding rates. In a joint statement signed by UNICEF’s Executive Director, Catherine Russell, and WHO Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, stated that in the past 12 years, only 48 per cent of infants worldwide have been exclusively breastfed.
The WHO and UNICEF recommend that babies initiate breastfeeding within the first hour of life and be exclusively breastfed within the first months of life. The agencies emphasise that breastfeeding provides all the energy and nutrients that infants need for the first six months of life and is important to ensure optimal growth and development for increased chances of survival. Speaking further, the CHAI ED emphasised that healthcare providers, viewed as authorities and credible sources of information by mothers and families, have a significant role in promoting, supporting, and increasing breastfeeding rates in the country.
“Healthcare providers can educate mothers about the importance of breastfeeding during prenatal visits, setting the stage for a successful breastfeeding experience. They can ensure that mothers receive proper support and guidance in the immediate postpartum period, when breastfeeding is established and offer ongoing support and guidance to mothers throughout the breastfeeding journey, helping to address any challenges or concerns that may arise,” she added. Alonge further urged healthcare providers to advocate hospital policies that support breastfeeding and promote skin-to-skin contact and rooming-in.
The child advocate called for the training of more lactation consultants and peer counsellors, the development of breastfeeding education materials in local languages and the establishment of breastfeeding support groups in communities and online. She added, “Collaborate with healthcare providers to provide lactation support and resources. Provide access to breast pumps and other breastfeeding equipment.
Support research on lactation and breastfeeding in Nigeria. Develop and implement policies that support breastfeeding in the workplace and public spaces. “Engage with community leaders and influencers to promote breastfeeding and lactation support.
Leverage technology to provide virtual lactation support and resources. Continuously monitor and evaluate lactation support and resources in rural areas to identify gaps and improve services.” The CHAI founder noted that despite several policies and programs to promote and support infant and young child feeding practices, malnutrition and early childhood feeding-related diseases and mortality remain significant public health concerns in Nigeria.
“The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative was introduced in 1992; the National Breastfeeding Policy was introduced in 1998; the National Policy on Food and Nutrition was introduced in 2001; the National Policy on Infant and Young Child Feeding was introduced in 2005. “Despite these initiatives, seven out of 36 states provide six months fully paid maternity leave; only 34 per cent of children aged zero to six months are exclusively breastfed; Women in the informal sector have nearly no support for breastfeeding,” Alonge stated. She also stated Nigeria was far from reaching the World Health Assembly’s 70 per cent target by 2030.
Alonge, however, noted that the Federal Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the World Bank and other stakeholders, was advocating stronger support by training stakeholders on maternal, infant and young child nutrition which will then be passed down to health workers at the local government level. She also called for regulation and restriction on the marketing practices of infant formula to ensure it did not negatively impact breastfeeding. Copyright PUNCH All rights reserved.
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