Decline in Early Breastfeeding Rates in Niger State: Urgent Action Needed.
By Yahaya Zakka Minna
The Niger State government has reported a concerning decline in Early Initiated Breastfeeding (EIB) rates, dropping from 42% in 2018 to just 35.5% in 2023, as revealed during a recent 5-Day Desk Review and Domestication of the Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) Strategy for Nutrition in the state.
This event was organized by the State Ministry of Primary Health Care in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
State Nutrition Officer, Hajia Asmau Abubakar, emphasized the importance of breastfeeding, advocating for its continuation for at least 24 months post-birth.
“We need to do more to ensure our mothers initiate breastfeeding early, particularly with colostrum, which is often misjudged as inferior milk,” she stated. Alarmingly, only one in three infants receives breast milk within the first hour of life, and a mere 29% are exclusively breastfed.
Furthermore, the situation for children under five remains dire, with 43.9% affected by stunting, 23.7% underweight, and 5.8% experiencing wasting.
Dr. Gerida Birukila, Chief of UNICEF’s Kaduna Office, highlighted Nigeria’s significant contribution to global malnutrition, which, along with India and Pakistan, accounts for over 40% of stunted children worldwide.
Represented by Chinwe Ezeife, UNICEF Nutrition Specialist, Dr. Birukila underscored the importance of a strategic policy informed by evidence-based research to combat malnutrition effectively.
“The SBC Strategy aims to engage stakeholders to promote positive feeding practices that resonate culturally with the people of Niger State,” she remarked.
In a goodwill message, Mrs. Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi, Director of Nutrition at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, urged stakeholders to integrate SBC into nutrition programs to reshape narratives around breastfeeding and malnutrition.
The focus now shifts to collaborative efforts among communities and health organizations to address this critical issue and promote healthier feeding practices for the well-being of mothers and children in Niger State.
