he United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has emphasized that exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a child’s life, and continuing breastfeeding for up to two years, is a fundamental right of every child.
This statement was made by Mrs. Juliet Chiluwe, the UNICEF Chief of Field Office in Enugu, during her welcome address at a two-day Zonal Media Dialogue. The event, focused on the World Breastfeeding Week, aimed to boost Nigeria’s Nutrition Zero Water Campaign, encouraging exclusive breastfeeding in the states of Enugu, Benue, Cross River, and Anambra.
Mrs. Chiluwe expressed concern about the low rates of exclusive breastfeeding among mothers and highlighted the need to address this gap to ensure that every Nigerian child benefits from breastfeeding. She stressed that exclusive breastfeeding is crucial for the health and development of both the child and the mother and plays a significant role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She called on the media to play an essential role in promoting and closing the gap in exclusive breastfeeding practices.
The Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ben Obidike, also underscored the importance of exclusive breastfeeding in his opening remarks. He emphasized the need for both public and private hospitals to support this practice and mentioned that Anambra State is considering making breastfeeding initiation within one hour of delivery a formal policy.
Dr. Ijeoma Onuoha-Ogwe, Communications Officer for UNICEF’s Enugu Field Office, outlined the objectives of the meeting, which included engaging journalists and On-Air Personalities in championing the Zero Water Campaign. This campaign promotes giving infants only breast milk for the first six months, followed by continued breastfeeding for up to two years. She noted that only nine percent of organizations have workplace breastfeeding policies and stressed the critical role of the media in changing this narrative.
UNICEF Nutrition Specialist, Mrs. Ngozi Onuora, spoke on the importance of breastfeeding support for all, describing breast milk as a powerful life-saver essential for the long-term health and well-being of both mother and child.
