Available statistics from the National Demographic Health Survey indicate only 13 in 100 mothers breastfeed their babies exclusively for the first few months of life. It also suggests four out of five babies are not exclusively breastfed within the first hour of life.
A decline in numbers from 17% to 13% in 2008, prompted health authorities to set targets to increase rates of exclusive breastfeeding among women to at least 50% by 2015 through community support groups for women, and in turn increase child nutrition.
Health minister, Onyebuchi Chukwu, said, an “underlying factor for the more than 50% mortality among children less than five years is associated with malnutrition,” which lowers children’s immunity and leaves them vulnerable to pneumonia, diarrhoea and malaria.
In comments to commemorate World Breastfeeding week delivered by the permanent secretary of health, Sani Bala, Chukwu said, “malnutrition in early stages, particularly in the first 1,000 days predisposes a child to a condition that causes irreversible physical and cognitive damage.”
The charity, Save the Children, insists breastfeeding has “potentials to have real impact in economic and social development in Nigeria.
“Breastfeeding with 30 minutes of life and up to 6 months is one of the most powerful weapons to fight malnutrition,” said Susan Grant, country director for Save the Children.
“Malnutrition will knock $125 billion off the global economy by 2030.
That is when children [today] suffering from malnutrition should be reaching working age.”
The charity urged increased support for mothers to breastfeed their babies—including providing crèches and longer maternity leave—and to combat misconceptions about breastfeeding.
