By Suzan Edeh, Bauchi
In Bauchi state, Residents have advocated for exclusive breastfeeding for six months of an infant life, saying that exclusive breastfeeding has the ability to reduce neonatal infections and deaths in infancy and cardiovascular diseases in adulthood.
They stated that while challenges exist, support from family members, healthcare workers, and community initiative should be strengthened to promote and sustain this practice in the state.
Daily Independent spoke with nursing mothers, fathers and Nutrition Officers at the PHCs in the state and they highlighted the positive impact of exclusive breastfeeding for six months on infant health, including fewer illnesses and improved cognitive development, as well as the convenience and cost-effectiveness for mothers.
A Civil Servant in Bauchi State, Danjuma Mohammed, a resident of Yelwa Tudu and father of four children emphasized on the importance of breastfeeding for an infant for six months, saying that all his children are healthy and strong because he supported his wife in practicing exclusivebreastfeeding.
” My children are strong and healthy because I hardly visit the hospital for the treatment of any major ailment.I ensure that rigth from the time they were born, I encouraged my wife to breastfeed my children because I was educated on. the benefits of breastfeeding” he said
Garba Gumau, a Nutrition desk officer in Misau town Primary Health Centre said that on their part at the health centre, they usually organise special sensitization programmes from time to time to educate expectant mothers and nursing mothers on the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding for six months.
“We also organize sensitization meetings for fathers, elderly women in the PHC to support their wives to practice exclusive breastfeeding because there is a difference between a child that is exclusively breastfed and the one that does receive exclusive breastfeeding.
Two Nursing mothers Sabiya Nasiru and Amina Lawal and a residents of Misau LGA shared their experiences on the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding.
” Breastfeeding is cost-effective for me because my family do not spend money to buy Baby food.I only give my child breast milk and as you can see, my baby is healthy” Amima said
According to Sabiya, she gave birth to her other two children at the Misau Town Primary Health Centre and has always adhere to the education she received from the midwives at the health facility to practice exclusive breastfeeding fir six months.
“Before I got married, I was told by some elderly women that I can give my baby water alongside breast milk.Infact, one of cousin who got married before me was doing it, but I observed that her children was always falling sick, she was always visiting the hospital.When I got married, I made up mind that I was not going to give my baby water as I was told by health workers here. I am happy that I hardly visit the hospital to treat any of my children for infection or any sickness because they are all healthy ” She said
On her part, the Bauchi Field Office of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said that breastfeeding helps in the aspect of child spacing and reduction in childhood killer diseases.
She appealed to the Bauchi state government to approve six months’ maternity leave for nursing mothers in the state, saying that breast milk is the first food for the baby, which really helps in developing systems against diseases and building the nutrition level of the child.
She noted that the six-month maternity leave, when approved, will enable mothers to observe the six months of exclusive breastfeeding and guarantee better care and better hygiene of the children.
“Starting with the formula we need to promote, 1,6,24. 1 is the first hour the baby needs to be initiated to breastfeeding for all the benefits of antibodies, it is the first food for the baby and it’s very good for the child”She said
Dr. Nuzhat Rafique noted that mothers need the support of all to be able to breastfeed their babies exclusively for 6 months and then continue till 24 months with complementary food.
