Low breastfeeding rate in Kwara unacceptable, says Commissioner

By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal

The Kwara Government has decried the low breastfeeding rate among nursing mothers in the state is unacceptable.

Dr Amina El-Imam, the Kwara Commissioner for Health made the observation in Ilorin during the Training of Secondary Healthcare Workers in Kwara State on Maternal Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training is for 120 Healthcare workers in secondary healthcare facilities across the 16 local government area for seven days.

Speaking at the occasion, the commissioner emphasized on the importance of breastfeeding, while describing it as the foundation of lifelong health and well-being.

She explained that brestmilk is a simple, cost-effective, and natural way to provide infants with the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development.

El-Imam oberved, however, that despite its proven benefits, exclusive breastfeeding rates in Kwara remains low.

She attributed this trend to cultural, social, and practical barriers that may serve as barrier for exclusive breastfeeding in the state.

The commissioner appealed to husbands, fathers and the males to supprt their women folks in breastfeeding thier infand children.

According to her, mothers may not have conducive environment for breastfeeding 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.

She insisted that men must lend a helping hand and support the mothers with household chores.

“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 charged the participants in the training to show commitment and be ready to learn, unlearn and re-learn on best practices in child nutrition and health.

Also in her address, Mrs Adenike Bayode, Baby Friendly Initiative Desk Officer, Federal Ministry of Health explained that the training is crucial as it equips health workers with knowledge on nutrition.

She advised the participants to make judicious use of the knowledge learnt during the training, adding that they are expected to champion nutrition practices at work place.

Earlier in his welcoming address, the Director of Public Health, Dr Oluwatosin Fakayode, explained that the training is facilitated by the Federal Ministry of Health in collaboration with Kwara Ministry of Health.

He disclosed that Kwara has recorded great improvement in the area of reducing under five mortality, 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)

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