By Terfa Naswem
As a result of the rate of global deaths of infants recorded with Nigeria being one of the countries seriously affected, UNICEF urges all nursing mothers in Nigeria in its State of the World’s Children Reports to practice exclusive breastfeeding to save the lives of their babies.
Exclusive breastfeeding is the act of giving infants only breast milk. No other liquid or solids are given-not even water-with the exception of oral rehydration solution, or drops/syrups of vitamins, minerals or medicines.
According to the United Nation’s Children Fund (UNICEF) State of the World’s Children Report 2015 & 2016, child nutrition in Nigeria has improved, but around 11 million children under the age of five are stunted. Stunting is an irreversible situation which happens to a child’s brain and the body when they don’t get the right kind of food or nutrients in their first 1,000 days of their life.
UNICEF acknowledged that Nigeria has made progress in micronutrient deficiency control, but about half the children aged 6 to 59 months do not receive vitamin A supplementation. Vitamin A deficiency can mean a child will be growing up lower immunity, which can trigger frequent health problems and poor growth.
Despite the fact that World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF recommended that babies should be exclusively breastfed during the first six months of life, in Nigeria, the rate of exclusive breastfeeding is just 15 percent according to UNICEF report.
Exclusive breastfeeding has many advantages for the wellbeing of the infant now and in many years to come. Mothers should take the issue of exclusive breastfeeding very seriously as it will do more good to the baby.
No comments