MEDIA DIALOGUE: UNICEF CONTINUES EMPHASIS ON EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING
REPORTER: EMEFIENA OKONKWO
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), says that media experts and organizations have vital roles to play in promoting the revised baby friendly Hospital Initiative and supporting breastfeeding practices.
To this end, UNICEF stressed that it would continue to collaborate with governments, the media and other relevant stakeholders to raise the visibility of breastfeeding as a foundation of child survival, health and development, that will also be beneficial to nursing mothers.
The Chief of UNICEF Enugu Field Office, Mrs. Juliet Chiluwe, stated this in Agulu, Anambra State, during a two day Zonal Media Dialogue on World Breastfeeding.
The event is to drive Nigeria’s Nutrition Zero water campaign for improved Exclusive Breastfeeding of infants in states of Enugu, Benue,Cross River and Anambra, which are under the field office.
Mrs. Chiluwe noted that breastfeeding is not just a woman’s issue or the sole responsibility of a woman, but a collective societal responsibility.
In his submission, the Commissioner for Health, Anambra State, Dr. Afam Obidike, announced that the state government would soon commence querying and penalizing nurses who fail to initiate infants to breastfeeding within one hour after birth.
Dr. Obidike highlighted the achievements recorded in child and maternal healthcare in the state.
They included free ante natal and drugs for expectant mothers, free child delivery, including cesarian section.
In separate presentations, the Communication Officer, UNICEF, Enugu Field Office, Dr. Ijeoma Onuoha-Ogwe, the Nutrition Specialist, Mrs. Ngozi Onuora, and the Nutrition Data Officer, Mr. Jeremiah Nwaeke, emphasized that unregulated donation of breastfeeding substitutes, combined with a lack of access to clean and safe water during emergencies, place infants and young children at risk of malnutrition and mortality.
They equally stated that Breastfeeding acts as an equalizer in the society and efforts must be made to ensure that everyone, especially the vulnerable group, has access to breastfeeding support and opportunities.
There was also a presentation by a Communication Expert and Deputy Vice Chancellor, Paul University, Awka, Anambra State, Professor Chinyere Okunna, while top government officials, Executive Secretaries of Primary Healthcare Development Agency of the four participating states and many notable journalists attended the Zonal Media Dialogue.
EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU
