The Commissioner for Health in Ekiti State, Dr. Oyebanji Filani, says no fewer than 800,000 babies die of poor breastfeeding yearly across the globe.
Dr Filani who made this known at a news briefing to mark the 2020 breastfeeding week in Ado Ekiti, pointed out that poor breastfeeding was largely responsible for the high infant mortality rate in the Nigeria.
He, however, noted that the incident was gradually being checkmated following the advent of exclusive breastfeeding and improved medical practices.
The Commissioner said Ekiti was rated as having 55.4 per cent compliance with the first six months exclusive breastfeeding policy it initiated in 2019.
He also hinted that the improvement in the state was due to the proactive action taken by the State Government in terms of increased sensitisation.
According to him, findings have shown that investing in breastfeeding will prevent 13 per cent of child deaths and morbidity of 90 per cent of mothers who exclusively breastfeed their infants, for the first six months of life.
He realized that globally, only 38 per cent of infants are exclusively breastfed and further revealed that suboptimal breastfeeding contributes to 800,000 infant deaths globally on annual basis.
The Commissioner highlighted that any baby who is exclusively breastfed for the first six months without any formula, has fewer ear infections, respiratory illnesses, as well as bouts of diarrhoea, fewer hospitalisations and trips to the doctor.
“It is so significant that it has helped to remove the myth and unacceptable use of herbs and concoctions for neonate and young children,” he stated.
Filani added that exclusive breastfeeding, aside reducing the rate of child mortality, would also rake in an estimated sum of $150 million into the country’s economy yearly.
The commissioner noted that as part of the policy that would enhance adequate care for infants in Ekiti, six months had been approved for maternity leave for female civil servants.
He added that the government was also considering granting paternity leave to the male civil servants, to make both parents responsible for the care of their newborns.
Filani then appealed to mothers to refrain from unwholesome cultural practices, mandating giving of water and other fluids to newborns and embrace exclusive breastfeeding.
He added that that would assist in boosting the baby’s immunities, thereby reducing morbidity and mortality rates in the system.
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