Wednesday, 5 August 2015

2015 World Breastfeeding Week message





Nigeria has one of the poorest exclusive breastfeeding rates in Africa
So, it's the World Breast Feeding Week. And, errrm, I meant the children, not otherwise. (*wink*). 
The World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from 1 to 7 August in more than 170 countries to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world. It commemorates the Innocenti Declaration signed in August 1990 by government policy makers, WHO, UNICEF and other organisations to protect, promote and support breastfeeding. (Source: WHO).
The recommended dosage is Exclusive Breast Feeding for the first six months of life, and this continues till at least the second year birthday, during which adult meal must have been added, a process known as Weaning. Doing this will help the child in a lot of ways, breastfeeding is the best way to provide infants with the nutrients they need. It will also save the parents lots of time, energy and money in treating what could have been prevented by ordinary breast feeding. 

Anyway, the theme for this year is “Breastfeeding and Work: Let’s Make It Work!
Nigeria has one of the poorest exclusive breastfeeding rates in Africa because many women give their infants water along with breast milk.
The permanent secretary of the federal ministry of health, Mr Linus Awute, made this known during the event that flag off the 2015 World Breastfeeding Week in Abuja” he also added that exclusive breastfeeding meant that the infant receives only breast milk.

Awute, “All the water the child needs is contained in the breast milk. There is no need to give the child water or any other liquid”.
He also called on the private sector to encourage breast feeding mothers through the provision of space for infant care such as creches and breastfeeding rooms in work places and by allowing flexible working hours for these nursing mothers.”

You may also want to check the WHO message for breastfeeding mothers
Let's make this work.
Drop your comments.
Your friend and healthcare provider.
 Dr. 'Lara 


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