… As data decline from 42% to 35.5%
Despite efforts to improve Early Initiated Breastfeeding (EIB) across the state, the Niger state government has disclosed that there is a decline to 35.5%.
The data according to the National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) has it that exclusive breastfeeding has remained on the same spot in the state.
While lamenting the level of decline at a 5 Day Desk review and Domestication of Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) Strategy for Nutrition in Niger State organized by the State Ministry of Primary Health Care in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the State Nutrition Officer, Hajia Asmau Abubakar said breastfeeding should ideally be continued to atleast twenty four months after birth.
According to her “in Niger state the Early Initiated Breastfeeding rate has declined from the 42% it was in 2018 to 36% in 2023 according to the National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS).
“We need to do more to ensure our mothers initiate to their new-borns early to breast milk especially the colostrum which some tag as bad breast milk.
“While only one out of three babies are given breast milk in the first hour after birth, only a poorly 29% are exclusively breastfed.
She added that for under 5, the state has 43.9% stunting cases, 23.7% underweight and 5.8% wasting.
Speaking also, the Chief of UNICEF, Kaduna Officer, Dr. Gerida Birukila said Nigeria contributes significantly to the burden of malnutrition and accounts for over 40 percent of the burden of stunting alongside India and Pakistan.
Dr. Birukila who was represented by Chinwe Ezeife, UNICEF Nutrition Specialist, said “progress have been made, but the virtual cycle of the burden of malnutrition represents a nationwide public health challenge.”
While saying that the policy is a strategic approach informed by evidence -based research that facilitates adoption of appropriate desired behaviours, Dr. Birukila said the Domestication is very important because of persistent malnutrition across life stages.
Accordingly, she said “the SBC Strategy is to identify and engage with stakeholders who can influence positive feeding practices, not only innovative but to provide simple actions that resonate with the cultural environment of Niger state people.”
In her goodwill message, the Director, Nutrition, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Mrs Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi who was represented by Acting Head of Advocacy, Mrs. Adenike Bayode urged the stakeholders to mainstream SBC in Nutrition programming so as to change the narrative.