…Set to erase poor breast-feeding.
by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Governor Uba Sani-led administration in Kaduna State has added value to health sector service delivery by establishing nutrition parlous in 255 Primary Health Centres across the state. He also restated commitment to improve breast-feeding of newborns in the State.
The governor disclosed this, while addressing a press conference on Thursday in commemoration of the 2024 World Breastfeeding Week, through the Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe.
Governor Sani, however, said that human capital development programs would amount to naught, if babies do not survive and thrive due to poor or none breast-feeding.
According to the Deputy Governor, while ensuring proper breastfeeding, the State Government’s is committed to providing qualified and adequate health providers in hospitals to assist lactating mothers, offering necessary vaccines to pregnant mothers and newborns.
She observed that, the attainment of complete breast feeding by breast feeding mothers faced challenges as a result of ignorance, hunger and poverty as well as insecurity in the Northwest, adding that the economic challenges of post-Covid 19 have continued to pose challenges to food production, income generation and access to nutrition for breast feeding mothers and dietary diversity appropriate for the children.
Dr Balarabe said this year’s theme, ‘Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All,’ was appropriate for lifting the level of awareness and support required to increase global breast feeding rate.
“As a government, we are committed to providing qualified and adequate health providers in our hospitals to assist lactating mothers, offering necessary vaccines to pregnant mothers and newborns, and strengthening our primary health care structures.
“We have approved a six-month paid maternity leave for working mothers in the Civil Service to support exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months. With the support of UNICEF, we have established nutrition corners across all 23 local government areas, providing counselling and practical demonstrations on infant nutrition.
“The State Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has also set up crèches in the Planning and Budget Commission and the State Ministry of Health to enable working mothers breastfeed their babies properly. The successful attainment of complete breast feeding by our breast feeding mothers continues to face challenges as a result of ignorance, hunger and poverty.
“Insecurity in our sub-region of the Northwest, coupled with the economic challenges of post-Covid 19 have continued to pose challenges to food production, income generation and access to nutrition for breast feeding mothers and dietary diversity appropriate for our children.
“I am proud to say that, our governor, Senator Uba Sani, is leading the Northwest Zone in framing a collective approach to the insecurity in the area, and I believe that soon the problem will be in the past, providing increased opportunities for families to support breast feeding mothers,” she stated.
The Deputy Governor stressed that, “Our governor recently flagged-off the distribution of free fertilizers for our farmers to support food production and nutrition for our mothers and families.
“This is in addition to the earlier farm implements and inputs distributed to farmers – especially ginger farmers – in the state. These are measures taken by our government to boost food production in the state, increase the income of our farmers and ensure descent and healthy livelihoods of our citizens and our new born babies.
“Our human capital development programs will amount to naught, if our babies do not survive and thrive. I wish to thank WHO, UNICEF, civil society partners, and our Ministries of Health and Budget and Planning for putting in their all in organizing this campaign that highlights the importance of breastfeeding and its critical role in the health and well-being of our children and society.
“This campaign is an opportunity for us to reaffirm our commitment to promoting and supporting breastfeeding. Together, we can ensure that every child has the best start in life, and every mother receives the support she needs to breast-feed her children.
“Let us all rise to close the gap and support breast feeding for all in Kaduna State. I urge you, journalists and the formal media, to join this campaign as part of your social responsibility to humanity.
“Remember that, no society can survive without an effective mechanism for the sustenance of its young ones. Breast-milk is central to the nurturing and survival of our babies and our humanity. Please, let us close the gap created by none or poor breast-feeding of newborns.
“This significant event was planned to have been a week-long event in Kaduna State and other parts of the world, beginning from the 1st to the 7th of August, 2024. Unfortunately, the recent protests that affected some parts of Kaduna State and Nigeria made such awareness campaign impossible,” she stated.
Furthermore, she added, “Because our dear governor, His Excellency Senator Uba Sani, recognizes the importance of exclusive breast-feeding to nurturing of newborn babies, he has directed that this press briefing be held as a way to create awareness and to sensitize our citizens as to the importance of mothers breast-feeding their babies immediately after birth.
“For the governor, it is important to reduce infant and child mortality as targeted by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), using the power of breast-milk.
“Breast-milk provides safe, clean, and nutrient-filled formula that protects babies against many common childhood illnesses. UNICEF has confirmed that early initiation of infants to breastfeeding, within one hour of birth, safeguards newborns from infections and significantly reduces newborn mortality.
“Colostrum – the first milk that a mother produces – is the most potent natural immune system booster known to science, which is why lactating mothers are encouraged to give it to their babies immediately after delivery.
“Breast milk provides up to half or more of a child’s nutritional needs during the second half of the first year, and up to one-third during the second year of life.
“Furthermore, breastfed children tend to perform better on intelligence tests, are less likely to be overweight or obese, and have a lower risk of diabetes later in life. For women, breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast and ovarian cancers,” she added.