Kano: Stakeholders urge Journalists to promote awareness on exclusive breastfeeding

As part of activities to commemorate world breastfeeding week in Kano state, Stakeholders have urged Journalists to acquire more knowledge from experts to promote awareness on exclusive breastfeeding for infants.

They disclosed this during a media dialogue on, “Stronger with Breastfeeding Only,” organised by the UNICEF in conjunction with the Abubarka Rimi Television, themed; “Step up for Breastfeeding–educate and support.”

The Director General of Abubarka Rimi Television, (ARTV) Hajia Sa’a Ibrahim noted that educating parents and stakeholders on the negative impacts of lack of exclusive breastfeeding would make a lot of difference in justifying growth, low Intelligence quotient (IQ) and child mortality among others.

During the dialogue, the United Nations Children Education Fund, UNICEF revealed that out of three million children under the age of five years in Kano, 1.5 million are stunted 108, 544 children are wasted, while 2.03 million are anaemic representing (66%) owing to lack of exclusive breastfeeding in the first six (6) months of life by their mothers.

UNICEF noted that Nigeria stands a chance to reduce under 5 child mortality by 13 per cent if exclusive breastfeeding is practised to the fullest.

He insisted that the dialogue would assist in pushing for exclusive breastfeeding in Kano state.

UN agency Nutrition Specialist, Kano field office, Niyi Oyedokun urged the media to become more involved in the aggressive campaign on Exclusive Breast Feeding in the first Six (6) months of life of a child for healthy living

He said the media through various channels should endeavour to educate and support the public, especially nursing mothers on the Art/Skills of breastfeeding.

 “The campaign here is on zero water or any other liquid or food, which can introduce micro-organisms to them. Breast milk contains 88% water, 3.8% fat, 0.9% protein, 7.0% lactose and 0.2 others. Babies should be initiated to it in the first zero minute to 1 hour of birth. It is the first vaccine that protects them against many common childhood diseases.

“Breast milk should be on demand, day and night for the first six months of their life and even up to two years as it even creates a bond between mother and child.

“The health of a child in the first 1,000 days of life, beginning from conception is very important. The mother too needs adequate nutrition rich in iron.”

Oyedokun added that research has shown that early initiation and continuous breastfeeding for six months reduce diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and coronary infection in adult age

The Deputy Director Kano State, SPHCMB, Murtala Inuwa said as the media comes to the forefront on the exclusive breastfeeding sensitization

“No artificial food, as it cannot give 100 percent of what exclusive breastfeeding can give, encourage targeted teaching during antenatal and the eight (8) group minimum dietary diversity campaign.”

According to him, if successful all a child needs in life is just maintenance without diseases.

World Breastfeeding Week is an annual celebration which is held every year from 1 to 7 August in more than 120 countries.

PIAK