By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
As part of the 2024 World Breastfeeding Week celebration, Alive&Thrive Fhi360 has joined other International Development Partners to advocate for for support for all nursing and lactating mothers in Bauchi state.
Speaking at the celebration in Bauchi, it was stressed that, in Nigeria, where people are facing challenges like malnutrition and infant mortality, breastfeeding should be used as a game-changer.
The assertion was made by the State Team Lead of Alive & Thrive FHI360 in Bauchi state- Asimobi Chidiebere during the celebrations of the 2024 World Breastfeeding Week in Bauchi.
He also urged all stakeholders to mark the beginning of World Breastfeeding Week which is a global celebration that highlights the importance of breastfeeding for mothers, babies, and the community.
He stated that it should be known that
Breast milk is a precious gift that provides optimal nutrition, boosts immunity, and fosters a strong bond between mother and child.
Asimobi Chidiebere further stated that, “As we observe the week, let everyone support breastfeeding mothers in their families, workplaces, and communities as well as encourage hospitals and healthcare facilities to adopt baby-friendly practices.”
They should also, “Promote awareness about the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months,
Work together to create a society that values and enables breastfeeding and
Ensure Bauchi State Adopts 6 Months Maternity leave for working mothers.”
He then asked all stakeholders to join hands to make Bauchi State a breastfeeding-friendly haven saying, “Together, we can give our children the best possible start in life.”
Asimobi Chidiebere added that the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS 2021) rates Bauchi state at 26.4% in exclusive breastfeeding practice, expressing optimism that in subsequent surveys, the state would surpass the national target,
In her remarks, the Nutrition Specialist, UNICEF, Bauchi Field Office, Mrs. Philomena Irene advocated for fully paid six months maternity leave for nursing mothers and two months paid paternity leave for the husbands to support their wives to exclusively breastfeed their newborn.
Also, Dr Yarima Kucici who spoke on behalf of the State Coordinator, World Health Organisation (WHO), stressed the importance of exclusive breastfeeding especially in the first 1000 days of life.
He too supported the advocacy for fully paid Six months of maternity leave for nursing mothers while the fathers should be paid Two months paternity leave as an encouragement to stand by the wives during the period.
Some of the nursing mothers who spoke testified that their husbands consistently provided them with nutritious food items, that aid in the production of enough breast milk for their babies.
UNICEF Nigeria had on the 1st August, supported 30,000 mothers across the 36 states of the country and the FCT who breaks world record by simultaneously breastfeeding their babies while all of the mothers who attended the event were given packs of diapers.
The Theme for the 2024 edition of the WBW is: ‘Closing the Gap, Breastfeeding Support for All’ which is an event where Nigeria broke the world Record of Mother breastfeeding together across all 36 state and FCT.
