Mrs Lynda Ishaku, a Plateau state based nutritionist, has called on nursing mothers to exclusively breakstfeed their babies for six months.
Ishaku gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in commemoration of the 2021 World Breast-Feeding Day celebration on Wednesday in Jos.
NAN reports that this year’s celebration has the theme “Protect Breast-Feeding: A Shared Responsibility”. According to Ishaku, exclusive breakstfeeding has enormous benefit to the mother, child and the society.
She also explained that exclusive breakstfeeding is cost effectively, adding that it is another simple method of family planning. “
We encourage mothers on early initiative, that is, by introducing the breast milk to the child within 30 minutes of birth. “The breast milk as we all know is very rich, safe and contains a lot of antibodies that fight all kinds of disease in the child. “
It also contain huge nutrients, protein, calcium, among others, that makes the child live healthy. It also enhances his development. “So, we encourage lactating mothers and all women who are still within the age of giving birth to do exclusive breastfeeding for their babies,”she advised.
The nutritionist also said exclusive breakstfeeding enables strong bond between mother and child, hence promote cordial relationship in the family.
She also called on nursing mothers to ensure proper complimentary feeding for their babies after the six months exclusive breakstfeeding, insisting that such move would ensure a healthy society.
As part of this year’s world breastfeeding day celebration, Ishaku said her department has carried out sensitisation campaigns for women at some primary healthcare facilities in the state and held radio programmes and advocacy visits to some communities. (NAN)
