….Celebrates World Breastfeeding Week
A non-governmental organization, Civil Society -Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) Rivers State Chapter, has called on all relevant stakeholders to improve funding of Nutrition Programmes in the state.
The State Coordinator of CS-SUNN Mr. Buduzhi Gift Oguzor on behalf of all Civil Society Organisations working in nutrition dropped the hint during this year’s celebration of World Breastfeeding Week.
He thanked the Governor of Rivers State His Excellency Chief (Barr) E.N Wike for approving budgetary provisions for nutrition activities in relevant MDA’s and called for timely release of budgeted funds to ensure implementation of nutrition programmes.
According to CS-SUNN Rivers State Co-ordinator, there is need to ensure implementation of such programmes that impact positively on the nutrition indicators and as well boost the exclusive Breastfeeding rate from the current 49% to at least 85%.
He called for the support of the zero water campaign by Government and Partners, emphasizing that since 80% of the breastmilk is water, babies should be fed exclusively with breastmilk within the first six months of life even in hot, dry weather.
“Babies get enough water from breastmilk, so they don’t need to be given water. Breastmilk is good for babies stomach and so supplies all the food their bodies need”, he reiterated.
Chronicling the importance of Breastfeeding Mr Oguzor described this year’s theme” Support Breastfeeding For A Healthier Planet” as apt owing to pollutants in foods, air and water, adding that the heaps of refuse arising from production, packaging, distribution and preparation of tin formula and other breastmilk substitutes have further affected the climate.
He regretted that this generated waste has increased expenditure on the part of the family, state and nation stressing that keeping mothers and babies together is a task for all.
