Not less than 70% of Nigerian infants have been denied the benefits of breast milk in their formative years…
This is according to the United Nation’s Children Fund (UNICEF), and the World Health Organization (WHO).
According to the organisations, this is consequent of the fact that the exclusive breastfeeding rate is now at 29 percent in Nigeria.
In a statement to mark the World Breastfeeding week, UNICEF and WHO further revealed that only 9 percent of organizations in Nigeria have a workplace breastfeeding policy.
Reports say this clearly indicates that mothers lack the enabling environment to optimally breastfeed their babies.
The statement jointly signed by UNICEF executive director Catherine Russell and WHO director-general Tedros Ghebreyesus stated that the results are high stunting rates of 37% of children Under-5, of which 21 percent are severe, and wasting among children under 5 years of age (7 percent).
They noted that this has continued to present severe consequences for the child.
They also noted that as global crises continue to threaten the health and nutrition of millions of babies and children, the vital importance of breastfeeding as the best possible start in life remains paramount.
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