WHO, UNICEF, Borno govt wants community behavioural change towards breastfeeding

WHO, UNICEF, Borno govt wants community behavioural change towards breastfeeding 

By Olatunji Omirin

The Borno State government and World Health Organisation (WHO) in collaboration with United Nations Children’s Education Funds (UNICEF) on Tuesday charged the religious and community leaders to scale up support for women to breastfeed their infants against diseases and all forms of child malnutrition and wasting.

The Wife of Borno State Governor, Dr Falmata Babagana disclosed this while flagging off this year’s 2022 World Breastfeeding Week with theme, “Let’s Step Up, Support For Breastfeeding” held in Maiduguri on Tuesday.

Falmata was represented by Commissioner for Women Affairs, Zuwaira Gambo revealed that an alarming three-fourths of women birthing at home in the state, depriving them of opportunities for education, counselling and support by the health professionals.

“As there remains a significant proportion of home deliveries, mothers and infants need support and care from family to initiate and continue breastfeeding. In addition, they need support from religious and community leaders, health systems, workplaces and government to breastfeed for as long as they desire.” Dr. Falmata said.

In his remarks, WHO Emergency Manager in Northeast, Dr. Richard Lako disclosed that less than 50 percent of the babies are breastfed in the first hour of life.

He said that breastfeeding is an important factor, particularly in the setting of an emergency that guarantees safe, nutritious and accessible food sources for babies and young children.

Also, the UNICEF Chief of Maiduguri Field Office, Mr. Samuel Sesay maintained that UNICEF would continue to support the Borno State Government and across north-east Nigeria to ensure that children survive and thrive.

“With support from our partners, more than 92,000 women and mothers with breastfeeding difficulties have been referred for Maternal Infant and Young Child Nutrition counselling. 

“Through community nutrition mobilisers and Mothers’ Support Group, over 93,000 children have been referred to health sites for severe acute malnutrition treatment.

 “Among other interventions, UNICEF is providing micronutrient powders and life-saving therapeutic food to children with acute malnutrition while more than 490,000 mothers and caregivers have been reached with personal hygiene, nutrition and COVID-19 prevention information.

“UNICEF will continue to work with the Borno State Government, and the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency for the wellbeing of all children.” Sesay said.