By Tony Okafor, Awka
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has emphasized that every child has the fundamental right to be exclusively breastfed for six months and upwards of two years.
This assertion was made by Mrs. Juliet Chiluwe, UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Enugu, at a two-day Zonal Media Dialogue on World Breastfeeding in Enugu held at Golden Tulip Hotel Agulu, Anambra State
The event aimed to drive Nigeria’s Nutrition Zero Water Campaign for Improved Exclusive Breastfeeding in four states: Enugu, Benue, Cross River, and Anambra.
Mrs. Chiluwe expressed concern over the low rate of exclusive breastfeeding, stressing the need to close the gap to ensure every Nigerian child is exclusively breastfed, given its benefits to both the baby and mother.
The Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ben Obidike, highlighted the importance of exclusive breastfeeding and the need for public and private hospitals to be involved in the effort.
He announced plans to make initiating breastfeeding within one hour of delivery a policy in Anambra State.
UNICEF’s Communications Officer, Dr. Ijeoma Onuoha-Ogwe, emphasized the media’s key role in championing the quest for zero water for babies in the first six months and subsequent breastfeeding for two years.
She noted that only 9% of organizations have workplace breastfeeding policies.
UNICEF Nutrition Specialist, Mrs. Ngozi Onuora, described breast milk as a powerful life-saver, critical to the long-term health and wellbeing of both mother and child.
She expressed concern that only 36% of mothers practice exclusive breastfeeding in Nigeria.
Prof. Stella Okunna, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Paul University Awka, urged the media to take up the challenge to convince mothers of the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding, emphasizing the media’s role in agenda setting and adopting strategies to achieve the goal.
