Niger state mobilises 1,800 mothers to promote Exclusive Breastfeeding

As part of efforts to promote the importance of exclusive breastfeeding, no fewer than 1,800 mothers converged from different local government areas of Niger State North Central Nigeria to breastfeed their babies simultaneously to commemorate the 2024 World Breastfeeding Week. The event, themed 'Closing the Gap: Break the Record, Break Barriers: Breastfeeding Support for All,' was organized by the Niger Ministry for Primary Healthcare in collaboration with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). In her remarks, Gerida Birukila, Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Kaduna, said the event was an attempt to break the world record for the highest number of lactating women breastfeeding simultaneously. 'We are not just gathered to break a world record; we are here to make history and send a powerful message to the world on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding,' she said. Birukila, who was represented by Mrs. Grace Odeyemi, UNICEF Consultant in Niger, said exclusive breastfeeding rates had remained low at 16 percent according to the Nigeria Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS 2021). She noted that many mothers face cultural, social, and practical barriers that prevent them from breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months of a child's life. She said the event aimed to break barriers that hinder mothers from practicing exclusive breastfeeding and to create awareness about its importance. She added that the effort was to achieve the World Health Assembly's target for exclusive breastfeeding and go beyond the 50 percent target. In her address, Hajiya Fatima Bago, Wife of the Niger Governor, called on everyone to provide support through education, resources, or breastfeeding-friendly workplace environments for mothers. Bago, represented by Hajiya Jummai Abubakar, Wife of the Niger SSG, announced the donation of 100 bags of rice to the first batch of 100 women to support them and their families. Also, Dr. Bello Turku, Commissioner for Secondary and Tertiary Health, said the aim was to showcase the need to improve support for mothers to practice optimal breastfeeding. He said the Federal Ministry of Health, Niger government, in collaboration with UNICEF and other partners, came up with the initiative to achieve a world record for lactating women breastfeeding simultaneously. One of the mothers, Malama Saratu Usman, pledged to educate other mothers in her community on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding. Source :News Agency of Nigeria