Govt urged to create enabling climate for Bosom feeding

The three tiers of government have been urged to enact enabling  laws and create an environment  for mothers to Bosom feed.
According to the Director of Child Health Advocacy Initiative, Mrs. Lola Alonge, the  government should raise awareness, improve maternity laws, enforce crèches in the work place, designate private areas for mothers to Bosom feed at work, and prevent aggressive marketing of Bosom  milk substitutes because of the negative effects on the nation.
Mrs Alonge, who wrote the  book, Breasfeeding made easy, said Bosom feeding was one of the most cost-effective interventions for newborn health, but the support needed is not always available. There must be policies and structures in place to allow mothers Bosom feed successfully.
“Bosom feeding is not just a matter of health; it’s a matter of human capital. Bosom feeding provides short and long term economic and environmental advantages to children, women, and the society. To realise these gains, powerful political support and financial investments are needed to protect, promote, and support Bosom feeding. Investing in Bosom feeding is an investment in the future of the country,” she said.
According to Mrs Alonge, “Majority of mothers say they want to Bosom feed, but while 77 percent start the process, only 16 percent is still exclusively Bosom feeding at six months. Lack of support is one of the biggest challenges. Organisations such as Child Health Advocacy Initiative (CHAI) and Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria (PHN) have taken the lead in the country to educate and inform mothers on how to Bosom feed successfully through training programmes in communities, primary healthcare centres, and schools. We also engage in advocacy programmes and distribution of information materials and books on Bosom feeding.
“It is time for policy makers to step up and recognise that Bosom feeding makes countries healthier and wealthier. The growth and development of societies depends on good nutrition. Recent studies show that Bosom feeding provides protection against infections, prevents obesity, and improves intelligence in children. And for the nursing mothers, it gives protection against Bosom  cancer, ovarian cancer, and improves birth spacing. Bosom feeding has also been identified as a high impact intervention to achieve the global strategy for women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health (2016-2030), which was launched alongside the Sustainable Development Goals as a roadmap for ending preventable deaths in a generation. Bosom feeding is not the sole responsibility of a woman. Society has a collective responsibility to promote Bosom feeding, and to create an enabling supportive environment,” she stated.

Posted: at 13-05-2016 06:54 AM (7 years ago) | Hero

Yawa supporter

Posted: at 14-05-2016 12:26 AM (7 years ago) | Addicted Hero

People already bosom feed in d public so no big deal...Na Europe d problem dey...

Posted: at 14-05-2016 06:34 PM (7 years ago) | Hero

People have not been protected is bosom feeding

Posted: at 20-05-2016 04:16 PM (7 years ago) | Hero

Pls, why yawa dey everywhere I go. Na serious yawa make yawa no cry again, e do. Na so we take c am yawa goes on, yawa don gas

Posted: at 30-05-2016 03:21 PM (7 years ago) | Addicted Hero

Y'ALL BETTER be careful, be very very careful, CAREFULLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL...

Posted: at 29-06-2016 10:35 AM (7 years ago) | Hero