The Honorable Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate has stated that Federal Government through his Ministry has demonstrated commitment to providing a better care for Newborns, Infants and Young Children through huge investment on training programmes for different levels of Health Professionals, including Doctors, Nurses, Nutritionists, Community Health Workers and the rest.
The Minister, announced the commitment in his speech at the flag off ceremony of 2024 World Breastfeeding Week with a Theme "Closing the Gab: Breastfeeding Support for All" held recently in Abuja and simultaneously across the thirty six states of the Federation, with aim to breaking the World Record.
Professor, Muhammad Ali Pate, who was represented at the event by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollum S. mni, further mentioned that Government understands the importance the Health Professionals play, especially in supporting women to breastfeed, hence the need to give them knowledge and education so that they should use the different methods of feeding, lactating as well as encouraging mothers against the stigmatization of breastfeeding in the open.
He added that Government has also committed to supporting and Promoting breastfeeding at veritable means towards eradication of malnutrition in all its forms, emphasizing that to achieve this there is need for collective efforts, especially in rising awareness.
"As we celebrate this breastfeeding week , I urge political leaders, policy makers, legislatures, women and men; Family friends, work place, traditional and religious leaders and so on to take responsibility and join hands to rise awareness on the huge benefits of breastfeeding and support mothers to practice optimal breastfeeding for the good of the country. We are all actors and we can work together to close the gab in Breastfeeding support and reduce inequalities " He reiterates.
The Hon. Minister who explained the benefits of human milk as it contains a lot of antibodies that fight infection, actually help in reducing inequalities as noticed during emergencies, also recalled that over the year, the last Multiple Indicators Survey of 2021 shows that more than 34% of Children between the ages of zero to 6 months are exclusively breastfed, advising women for early initiation from within the first one hour of birth to two years, saying that lactating working mothers should also adopt expressed breastfeeding method.
Pate, expressed his deep appreciations to all breastfeeding mothers across the 36 states and FCT, esteem Development Partners and all other stakeholders who have continued to support, protect and promote breastfeeding, urging women to always patronize various Primary Health Care centers located in their respective locations for medical attention.
Earlier in her welcome address, Director Nutrition, FMOH&SW, Mrs. Ladi Bako -Aiyegbusi, mni, stressed the unique nature of this years breastfeeding event “because today, we will be breaking the world record as lactating women would be breastfeeding their children simultaneously. At least not less than 30,000 women lactating were gathered across all the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory and selected Internally Displaced Persons camp, we are working to break the current global of 21,000 attempted by the Philippines in 2013. Today Nigeria would globally change the record, we are going to be ambassador and garner support to ensure women breastfeed their children effectively”.
She stated that the Theme emphasizes the need to support and ensure that lactating mothers and children wherever they are located, are enabled, to make breastfeeding a successful and fulfilling experience and manifold benefit of breastfeeding would be reaped.
Applauding Nigerians for joining the Global community to celebrate the 2024 world breastfeeding week, Mrs. Aiyegbusi reflected on how we can collectively improve support for breastfeeding at every level and break the barriers that many women face in their breastfeeding journey saying that , although breastfeeding is a natural process, women need adequate support to attain optimal breastfeeding.
She explained that breastfeeding, aside being one of smartest rewarding cost effective investments that can build a nation's future prosperity as it brings huge returns to the child, mother, family and all, it offers children unparalleled health and brain building benefits, saves lives of women and children as well as ensuring economic growth and enhanced work force.
The special Guest at the occasion and the wife of the Chief of Defense Staff, President, Defense and Police Officers Wives Association (DEPOWA), Mrs. Oghogho Musa, while presenting her goodwill message pointed out that exclusive breastfeeding can be abserved by all categories of lactating mothers in respective of their background when fully supported.
Sharing her experience, Mrs. Oghogho explained the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding to the health of children and thanked the Federal Ministry of Health and other stakeholders for their respective commitments towards Promoting breastfeeding among Nigerians.
Cristian Munduate, the Country Representative, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in her goodwill message, appreciated mothers for their courage, dedication and participation in the breastfeeding event, adding that it is a true testament of their commitment to their childrens' health and to the health of future generations.
She adduced that the event was not only to break a world record on breastfeeding but to make history and send a powerful message to the world about the importance of breastfeeding stating that breastfeeding is the foundation of lifelong health and well-being.
Representing Dr. Muyi Aina, the Chief Executive Officer, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Sam Obasi, reiterated that the theme of the year's breastfeeding week resonates deeply with commitment to ensuring that all mothers have access to quality breastfeeding support, regardless of their background or circumstances considering the immense benefits of breastfeeding for mothers, babies and the nation.
Ado Bako
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