Health experts have raised concerns over the increase in the number of infants vulnerable to infectious diseases due to inadequate breastfeeding.
This emphasis was the focus of an awareness talk held at the Federal Medical Centre in Umuahia, the capital of Abia State, in southeast Nigeria.
According to the Head of Nursing Department in the hospital, Mr Nwanyieze Mba, breastfeeding awareness was apt, as investigation carried out at the antenatal ward showed that the number of malnourished and dehydrated infant had increased from zero per cent to eighty per cent.
A worrisome situation, which he said could be prevented.
In recent times, the need to improve maternal and child health care services has been emphasised.
This is why health experts on maternal and child care, dieticians, health workers amongst others are embarking on awareness programme to stress the need for the protection of the right of the child through healthy and adequate nutrition.
And these include breast milk which serve as a measure against Child malnutrition.
Nursing mothers are therefore advised to exclusively breastfeed their children from the day of the birth to six months 8-12 times a day without adding water or any supplement.
A pediatrician, Dr. Amara Okafor, pointed out that it has been noted that about 37 per cent of mothers were not feeding their babies with breast milk, a trend which must end if Nigerian women wanted a healthy baby and a healthy future.
According to the Head of Nursing Department at Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, Nwanyieze Mba, the consequences of not adhering to exclusive breastfeeding were enormous and includes high risk of bacterial contaminations in infants as well as the babies’ immunity being very low and making them vulnerable to diseases.
A healthy baby is a healthy future.
The breastfeeding awareness campaign is thus the key to a sustainable development and the only way to protect the right of the child.
The highlight of the Breastfeeding awareness talk was the presentation of gift items to some well-fed babies whose mothers had adhered strictly to exclusive breastfeeding.
There are evidences that breast milk prevents respiratory tract infection, otitis media, ear infection in children, gastro-intestinal infections and can also help prevent breast cancer in women.
