No fewer than 800,000 babies die of poor breastfeeding annually across the world.
The commissioner for health in Ekiti State, Dr Oyebanji Filani, stated this at a press conference to mark the 2020 edition of breastfeeding week in the state.
He said poor breastfeeding was largely responsible for high infant mortality in Nigeria.
However, he said the incident is being checkmated gradually due to the introduction of exclusive breastfeeding and improved medical practices.
He said Ekiti was rated as having 55.4 percent compliance with the first six months exclusive breastfeeding in 2019.
The commissioner said the improvement in Ekiti was due to the sensitisation programme of the state government.
“Findings have shown that investing in breastfeeding will prevent 13 percent of child deaths and morbidity if 90 percent of mothers exclusively breastfeed their infants for the first six months of life.
“Globally, only 38 percent of infants are exclusively breastfed and suboptimal breastfeeding contributes to 800,000 infant deaths globally on annual basis.
“So, any baby who is exclusively breastfed for the first six months without any formula has fewer ear infections, respiratory illnesses, and bouts of diarrhoea and has fewer hospitalisations and trips to the doctor.
“It is so significant that it has helped to remove the myth and unacceptable use of herbs and concoctions for neonate and young children,” said the commissioner.
He added that exclusive breastfeeding would reduce child mortality and rake in a sum of $150 million into the Nigerian economy yearly.
Filani stated that as part of the policy to enhance adequate care for infants in the state, six months had been approved for maternity leave for nursing mother civil servants.
He also disclosed that the government was considering granting of paternity leave to make both parents responsible for the care of their newborns.
He appealed to mothers to refrain from giving water and other fluids to newborns.
Instead, he urged them to embrace exclusive breastfeeding to boost babies’ immunity and reduce morbidity and mortality rates.
