The Kwara State Government on Tuesday lamented the low breastfeeding rate among nursing mothers in the state.
The Kwara Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina El-Imam made the observation in Ilorin during the Training of Secondary Healthcare Workers in Kwara State, on Maternal Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN).
The training was for 120 healthcare workers in secondary healthcare facilities across the 16 local government area for seven days.
El-Imam emphasised on the importance of breastfeeding, and described it as the foundation of lifelong health and well-being for a child.
“Breast milk is simple and cost-effective, and a natural way to provide infants with the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development.
“Despite its proven benefits, exclusive breastfeeding rates in Kwara remain low,” she said.
She attributed the trend to cultural, social, and practical barriers for exclusive breastfeeding by mothers.
“Husbands, fathers and males should support their women during child nursing by providing good food, and others because of their infants and the mother.
“Mothers may not have conducive environment to breastfeed exclusively for the first six months of their child’s life due to the nature of their profession, or as a result of exhaustion from household chores.
“Lending a helping hand and support mothers with household chores goes a long way.
“Breastfeeding reduces the burden of childhood illness, and the risk of underweight, stunting, wasting and also increase intellectual development.
“Nothing should get in the way of exclusive breastfeeding, and the figures must improve by 2025,” she said.
El-Imam urged participants in the training to show commitment and be ready to learn, unlearn and re-learn the best practices in child nutrition and health.
Also, Mrs Adenike Bayode, Baby Friendly Initiative Desk Officer, Federal Ministry of Health, explained that the training was crucial to equip health workers with knowledge on nutrition.
She advised the participants to make judicious use of the training “because they are expected to champion nutrition practices at their work place.”
Earlier, the Director of Public Health, Dr Oluwatosin Fakayode, explained that the training was facilitated by the Federal Ministry of Health in collaboration with Kwara Ministry of Health.
He disclosed that Kwara recorded great improvement in reducing under five mortalities, saying that the former indices showed 74 deaths per 1000.
Fakayode stated that the present indices indicate 14 deaths per 1000, which he attributed to the consistent efforts of the state government.
NAN
