Plan International, a non-governmental organization working to improve the lives of vulnerable people has encouraged mothers in Borno to breastfeed their newborns for two years.
Out of these two years, the organization explained that newborns need six months of exclusive breastfeeding, free of any supplements, to ensure their effective growth.
The organization disclosed this in Maiduguri on Monday during a program organized to commemorate World Breastfeeding Week, which occurs every first week of August.
In an interview with this reporter, Dr. Ademola Ogunyemi, the nutrition project coordinator with Plan International Nigeria, said that one of the most critical windows of opportunity for every child is the first two years of life.
He added that other benefits of breastfeeding include providing children with the necessary immunity and body defenses to help them fight various diseases, such as respiratory infections.
‘Babies who are adequately breastfed can grow and develop well; it also boosts their Intelligence Quotient (IQ) because it aids in brain development,’ Dr. Ogunyemi said.
According to him, this is not the first time the organization has advised mothers on this issue, stressing that the Infant and Young Child Feeding Counseling project is dedicated to improving the skills and education of breastfeeding mothers in the state.
“We usually bring mothers in the communities together and educate them on what infant and young child feeding is. We also educate them on the benefits and correct modalities of breastfeeding, including proper attachment and positioning.
‘At Plan International, we also conduct cooking demonstrations where we teach mothers to utilize the available resources within their community. We emphasize that breastfeeding mothers require support to adequately breastfeed,’ he added.
Also speaking, Tama Manumblum, one of the facilitators, said that breastfeeding education is not restricted to women alone; men are also involved.
She emphasized the importance of men educating themselves on how to provide adequate support to their wives and babies during the breastfeeding period.
About the Week
World Breastfeeding Week was initiated in 1991 by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA).
This year’s theme, “Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All,” emphasizes the benefits of breastfeeding and the importance of supporting mothers to breastfeed effectively.
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