Executive Secretary, FCT Primary Health Care Development Board, Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed, revealed this yesterday at the 2014 World Breastfeeding Week and 2014 Baby Show celebrations in the FCT.
He said a 2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey has indicated that while under five mortality rate has dropped from 75% to 69% for every 1,000 live births over a five year period, maternal mortality increased from 545 to 579 over the same period.
He said the report also indicated that 18% of married women and 12% of married men want no more children, while one third of married women and 40% of men want to wait at least two years before their next birth.
The Executive Secretary decried the rate of breastfeeding in Nigeria as very low at 15% and said exclusive breastfeeding of babies for the first six months after birth increases the Intelligence Quotient IQ of the child.
He said the board shall, within the 2014 World Breastfeeding Week, train members and carry out orientation across different communities in the six area councils of the territory.
Also contributing, Dr. G.B. Tail, the Acting Director, Primary Health Care in the Board, extolled the mothers to exclusively breastfeeding their babies for them to grow well and be intelligent babies.
He said the theme for this year’s celebration is “ Breastfeeding: A Winning Goal for Life,” with a slogan “Breastfeeding: Score a Goal, Save a Life” with the aim of creating awareness and advocate for improved commitment from all stakeholders to promote, protect and support optimal breastfeeding practices.
