The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has called on Nigerian mothers to exclusively breastfeed their children, as this promotes their health, prevents infections, and ensures the cognitive and physical growth of their children.
The agency also encouraged nursing mothers to always espouse optimal breastfeeding of their children with a view to lowering the risk of breast and ovarian cancers.
Speaking during the 2023 World Breastfeeding Week celebration with the theme; Enabling breastfeeding – making a difference for working parents, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye disclosed that breastfed babies have stronger immunity, and a reduced risk of suffering many childhood illnesses and infections.
According to a statement by the Resident Media Consultant of NAFDAC, Sayo Akintola, as part of underscoring the importance of creating an enabling environment for child health, the Agency recently created an Office of Women’s Health, a multi-disciplinary center where issues that concern maternal and child health will be continuously addressed.
Lafiya360 reports that Prof. Adeyeye who was represented by the Director, Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (FSAN), Eva Edwards, added that it is also associated with longer-term health benefits including reduced risk of overweight and obesity in childhood and adolescence.
She explained that breastfeeding also provides health benefits to mothers, by helping to prevent postpartum bleeding, support child spacing, lower the risk of breast and ovarian cancers and earlier return to pre-pregnancy body weight.
According to the NAFDAC DG, this year’s theme was apt as it was aimed at strengthening the collaboration of actors across different levels of society to support and promote breastfeeding for working parents so that women can combine breastfeeding and work.
She added that this is important because workplace challenges remain one of the most common reasons for women to stop breastfeeding earlier than recommended.
Prof Adeyeye further explained that a workplace needed adequate breastfeeding facilities to become a breastfeeding-friendly workplace, adding that lack of conducive breastfeeding environment especially for working mothers hinders breastfeeding of infants. With provision of appropriate lactation rooms in workplaces, she maintains that employers stand to benefit as it leads to happier, more dependable, and productive employees.
The NAFDAC head, however, maintained that there is still a lot of work to be done in creating an enabling breastfeeding environment to promote the best nutrition, health, and environmental outcomes. One contributory strategy to achieving this, she said, is enforcing compliance with the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes established to protect and promote breastfeeding and protect mothers from inappropriate marketing of breastmilk substitutes by industry.
While reiterating that the agency will continue to strengthen the implementation, monitoring and enforcement of the Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and our national regulations, she implored everyone to join hands with NAFDAC as breastfeeding is a cost-effective investment in the nation’s health, economy, and future workforce.
Speaking in the same vein, the Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN) Lagos Chapter emphasized that nutrition is essential for a healthy breastfeeding journey. The Programme Team Lead of NSN, Lagos Chapter, Mrs. Chioma Emma-Nwachukwu, admonished mothers to also maintain a balanced diet and stay hydrated to provide the best for their little one.
She said, “Your diet influences the quality of your breastmilk and, in turn, affects your baby’s health. Embrace foods that boost lactation and enhance your baby’s well-being.”