Ignorance, hunger, poverty hindering proper breastfeeding of babies – Kaduna govt

Deputy Governor of Kaduna, Dr Hadiza Balarabe has said ignorance, hunger, and poverty are major challenges to breastfeeding in the state as well as in the Northwest.

She assured that the state government is committed to ensuring that mothers are empowered to breastfeed newborns in the state, stressing that human capital development programs will amount to nought if babies do not survive and thrive due to poor or no breastfeeding.

Briefing newsmen on Thursday in commemoration of the 2024 World Breastfeeding Week, the State Deputy Governor, explained that in ensuring proper breastfeeding the State government is providing qualified health providers in hospitals to assist lactating mothers, offering necessary vaccines to pregnant mothers and newborns.

The Deputy governor lamented that the attainment of complete breastfeeding by mothers continues to face challenges as a result of ignorance, hunger, and poverty as well as insecurity in the North West.

She said, “The economic challenges of post-COVID-19 have continued to pose challenges to food production, income generation, access to nutrition for breastfeeding mothers, and dietary diversity appropriate for the children.”

She said this year’s theme, “Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All”, was appropriate for lifting the level of awareness and support required to increase the global breastfeeding rate.

She revealed that the government has approved a six-month paid maternity leave for working mothers in the civil service to support exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, saying that with the support of UNICEF, they have established nutrition corners across all 23 local government areas, providing counselling and practical demonstrations on infant nutrition.

The State Government, she explained in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has also set up crèches in the Planning and Budget Commission and the State Ministry of Health to enable working mothers to breastfeed their babies properly.

She thanked the WHO, UNICEF, civil society partners, and the Ministries of Health and Budget and Planning for putting in their all in organizing this campaign that highlights the importance of breastfeeding and its critical role in the health and well-being of our children and society.