The PROVISION OF FAMILY FRIENDLY POLICIES TO SUPPORT BREASTFEEDING BREAKS IN PUBLIC WORK PLACES AND OTHER SALIENT ISSUES DOMINATED DISCUSSIONS at event to COMMEMORATE 2022 WORLD BREASTFEEDING WEEK IN LAGOS STATE, South-West NIGERIA.
SOME OF THE EXPERTS NOTED THAT OVER 70% OF INFANTS IN NIGERIA ARE DENIED EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING, DUE TO INSUFFICIENT TIME GRANTED WORKING MOTHERS IN THEIR DIFFERENT WORK PLACES. This they say has led TO the INCREASE IN THE RATE OF RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS AND INFANT MORTALITY.
BREASTFEEDING ACCORDING TO HEALTH EXPERTS IS THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE INTERVENTION FOR REDUCING MALNUTRITION, DIARRHEA EPISODES AND OTHER CHILDHOOD INFECTIONS.
AS VITAL AS EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING IS TO THE SURVIVAL OF CHILDREN, A RECENT REPORT BY THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, WHO AND UNICEF, INDICATES THAT OVER 70% OF INFANTS IN NIGERIA ARE DENIED THIS LIFE SAVING INTERVENTION.
BEYOND THE BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING TO CHILDREN, MOTHERS ALSO STAND TO GAIN A LOT.
THE WORLD BREASTFEEDING WEEK IS MARKED EVERY FIRST WEEK IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST TO GENERATE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND SUPPORT FOR BREASTFEEDING.
THE THEME FOR THIS YEAR IS ” STEP UP FOR BREASTFEEDING: EDUCATE AND SUPPORT”
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
