The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called on governments and other stakeholders at national and state levels to support breastfeeding mothers in the formal and informal sectors exclusively breastfeed their babies.
The call was made by the Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Nigeria Bauchi Field Office, Dr. Tushar Rane, at a press conference to mark the World Breastfeeding Week 2023.
He warned that babies who were not breastfed are 14 times more likely to die before they reach their first birthday than babies who are exclusively breastfed.
Rane said there was need for government and other stakeholders to work and promote policies that encourage exclusive breastfeeding. He listed such measures to include paid maternity leave for six months, paternity leave and flexible return-to-work options for parents with new-born babies.
He explained that regular lactation breaks during working hours and adequate facilities that enable mothers to continue exclusive breastfeeding for six months are also a sure way of supporting breastfeeding.
UNICEF Warns; Children Not Breast Fed Likely To Die Before Their Birthday
