Save the Children International, has called for the implementation of policies that promote, protect and support exclusive breastfeeding and optimal breastfeeding practices.

According to the group, this is key to improved child survival, development, and contributes to Nigeria’s attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The group joins the world to commemorate World Breastfeeding Week which began last Sunday to Saturday aimed to highlight the huge benefits that breastfeeding can bring to both the health and welfare of babies.

It calls for an increased support to, and protection of, mothers and awareness creation for an optimal exclusive breastfeeding practice in Nigeria

Exclusive breastfeeding is the best source of nourishment for infants and young children, and a proven lifesaving strategy that helps protect children against several common childhood illnesses, such as diarrhea and pneumonia

Breastfeeding saves lives.

Acting Country Director, Save the Children International Nigeria, Shannon Ward, said the annual celebration aims at increasing awareness on the health and wellbeing outcomes of breastfeeding on infants, young children, mothers, families and the society at large.

The theme of this year’s celebration is ‘Protect Breastfeeding, A Shared Responsibility’ with the slogan for Nigeria, “Join Hands! Support Exclusive Breastfeeding”.

This brings another opportunity for the collaboration of various stakeholders and interest group including fathers, religious/traditional rulers and private sector to contribute to improving Nigeria’s Exclusive Breastfeeding rates in the country.

The occasion also brings the chance to support health care workers and providers, and community workers and volunteers to be trained adequately to provide breastfeeding counselling, correctly enlighten caregivers on child nutrition while delivering psychosocial support to pregnant women, women and adolescent mothers with infants and young children and adolescent girls, thus integrating mental health & psychosocial support into all Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) counselling.

“Economic benefits of breastfeeding to families and society at large cannot be overemphasized. Through our programmes, we will continue to support breastfeeding mothers and encourage their families to support them.

We are advocating for governments at all levels to create enabling environments for lactating mothers by building crèches in workplaces and implementing policies that will support exclusive breastfeeding for six months.

Acting Head of Health and Nutrition, Save the Children International Nigeria,

Dr Adaeze Oramalu-Ogwuche said, “Breastfeeding week is one of the greatest outreach vehicles for the promotion of optimal infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices to other network of influencers (fathers, religious/traditional rulers, institutions and Private sector) as they contribute to the exclusive breastfeeding rate in Nigeria.

It is very important to continue to highlight the importance of breastfeeding and our responsibility, encourage and promote exclusive breastfeeding and improve the health of babies and mothers across the world and in Nigeria’’.

Save the Children International calls everyone to remember, support and take action to achieve the goals of the week: i.e., improving the health of infant children and promoting, protecting, and supporting the rights of women to breastfeed anywhere and at any time; increasing breastfeeding to near-universal levels could save many lives every year, the majority being children under six months.

About Save the Children believes every child deserves a future.

In Nigeria and around the world, we work every day to give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn, and protection from harm.

When crisis strikes, and children are most vulnerable, we are always among the first to respond and the last to leave. We ensure children’s unique needs are met and their voices are heard.

Save the Children delivers lasting results for millions of children, including those who are hardest to reach.

We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future that we share.

Save the Children has been working in Nigeria since 2001, and is currently present in 12 States of the Federation.

For more information and/or interview arrangements, please contact:

Kunle Olawoyin, Media and Communications Manager, Save the Children International Nigeria, Email: Kunle.Olawoyin@savethechildren.org Mobile +234 (0) 802-368-4903