The National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has urged mothers to practice exclusive breastfeeding for newborns to enhance health outcomes and reduce the risk of ovarian cancer. This call was made in a statement by the agency’s resident media consultant, Mr. Olusayo Akintola, on Sunday in Abuja.
NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, conveyed the message during the 2024 World Breastfeeding Week celebration in Lagos. The event’s theme was “Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All.”
Represented by Mrs. Eva Edwards, Director of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Prof. Adeyeye highlighted the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendation for early initiation of breastfeeding within the first hour of birth, continuing exclusively for the first six months. Afterward, breastfeeding should be complemented with safe, appropriate foods while continuing for up to two years or beyond.
The NAFDAC Director-General emphasized that breastfed babies develop stronger immunity and face a lower risk of childhood illnesses and infections. Additionally, she noted that exclusive breastfeeding is associated with longer-term health benefits, including higher Intelligence Quotient (IQ) for infants.
The annual World Breastfeeding Week aims to raise awareness and garner support for better breastfeeding practices. This year’s theme underscores the importance of improving breastfeeding support, especially in emergencies and crises, to reduce health inequities and protect the rights of mothers and babies to thrive.
Prof. Adeyeye also addressed the challenges faced by mothers, citing a lack of support, limited access to trained personnel, and inadequate counseling as barriers to optimal breastfeeding. She referenced the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, which showed that while 97% of Nigerian children were breastfed at some point, only 42% were breastfed within the first hour of birth, and just 29% were exclusively breastfed for the first six months. The 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey indicated an improvement, with approximately 34% of children exclusively breastfed.
Despite this progress, the figures still fall short of the WHO’s target of achieving a 50% exclusive breastfeeding rate by 2025. Prof. Adeyeye called for collective action to accelerate progress and promote optimal breastfeeding practices to meet global targets.
She stressed that support from the health system, family, community members, and workplaces is crucial to the success of breastfeeding. Breastfeeding, she added, plays a significant role in achieving Sustainable Development Goals 2 and 3, which focus on ending hunger, improving nutrition, and promoting health and well-being. Additionally, breastfeeding is a critical pathway to reducing under-five mortality, serving as the baby’s first and most essential food system.
