BREASTFEEDING, ANTIDOTE TO MALNUTRITION IN CHILDREN – PERMANENT SECRETARY

The Permanent Secretary of the newly created Lagos State Health District II (superintending over primary health facilities in Shomolu, Kosofe and Ikorodu LGAs), Dr. Dayo Lajide has said that proper and exclusive breastfeeding practice, especially during the first six months of a baby’s life can help prevent malnutrition in children.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony of the Y2023 World Breastfeeding Week commemoration championed by the First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. (Mrs.) Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu at the Ogudu Primary Healthcare Centre in Kosofe LGA and Ita-Elewa PHC in Ikorodu LGA, Lajide noted that the fight against malnutrition in children can only be won through the collective efforts of citizens by ensuring that all children are exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life, followed by adequate complementary feeding with continued Breastfeeding for up to two years of age.

She disclosed that about 60 percent of under-five mortalities are largely due to malnutrition, caused by poor breastfeeding practices and inadequate complementary feeding. 

While noting that breastfeeding still remains the most cost-effective strategy to address malnutrition and improve child health indices, Lajide averred that Breastfeeding prevents hunger and malnutrition in all its forms and ensures food security for babies. 

“Breast milk is readily available, pure, safe, and in the right mixture and adequate for babies. Breast milk adds no economic burden on households’ income because it is freely given by nature. It is important to reiterate that breastfeeding is the key to sustainable development goals”, she added. 

Addressing the theme of the Y2023 WBW commemoration, which is “Enabling Breastfeeding: Making a Difference for Working Parents”, the Permanent Secretary explained that the theme explores the importance of the need to protect, promote and provide support for a breastfeeding-friendly environment for all, especially working parents.

Lajide, who recounted her Breastfeeding experience as a working parent, urged employers of labour and employees to create and sustain a breastfeeding-friendly environment for working mothers, adding that the benefits and importance of proper and exclusive breastfeeding cannot be overemphasised.

“Breastfeeding is the right of every baby, and an enabling environment remains the exclusive right of both the mother and the child”, she said.

Lajide stated that the Lagos State Government has approved six months of maternity leave for mothers, and two weeks of paternity leave for the first two pregnancies for fathers as part of efforts to support proper and exclusive breastfeeding practice. 

While noting that the initiative has contributed tremendously to the exclusive Breastfeeding data, the Permanent Secretary encouraged women of child-bearing age, especially pregnant women and nursing mothers, to subscribe to proper breastfeeding practice.

“The survival of our children is our collective responsibility, and so this is a clarion call to action. All hands must be on deck to ensure that our nursing mothers are supported to give the meal nature has provided to our children”, Lajide said.

She also seized the opportunity of the breastfeeding week flag-off at Ogudu and Ita-Elewa PHCs to tour the facilities of the health centres, noting and proferring on-the-spot solutions to challenges. She also engaged management and staff of the health facilities, intimating them of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s Lagos Government Free Health directive for PHCs to offer free ante-natal services and delivery as part of the Lagos State Government palliative rollout to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal.

Lajide also paid a courtesy visit to the Chairman of Ikorodu LGA, extending hands of partnership and collaboration between the Local Government and the newly established Health District II.