Stakeholders stress need for creche in offices

By Kemi Olatunde
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In order to provide ideal nutrition for babies and also reduce the risk of future behaviour and learning problem in children, governments have been advised to improve work environment through the provision of crèche in offices which will encourage mothers to embrace exclusive breastfeeding.

This was the submission of stakeholders at a one day stakeholders’ meeting on infant and young children feeding practices organised by the Ondo State Primary Health Care Development Agency (OSPHCDA) and Alive and Thrive project(FHI 360) in Akure .

They also advocated for the allocation of certain percentage of the budget for the funding of primary health care especially in the area of exclusive breastfeeding just as they called for the grassroot training of Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs).

Speaking on the Code of marketing breast milk substitute, Ondo State Coordinator, NAFDAC, Azikiwe Kenneth who noted that federal government believes in the exposure of new born to breast milk 30 minutes after birth and exclusive breastfeeding for six months, stated that the code aims to shield breastfeeding from commercial promotion which affects mothers, health workers and health care system.

He explained that the agency aims at promoting and protecting optimal infant and young child feeding practices by ensuring the appropriate marketing and distribution of breast milk substitutes noting that it can only encourage safe and appropriate use of commercially processed food when necessary.

According to him, “formula feeding should be demonstrated only to those mothers or family members who need to use it and the information given should include a clear explanation of the risks of formula feeding and hazards of improper use of products.”

Representative of Alive and Thrive, Stephanie Dada while speaking on breastfeeding and maternity protection, she noted that the organisation partners with Primary Health Care (PHC) to ensure that nutrition is looked at holistically and not just on breastfeeding.

While calling for improvement in the state’s nutrition indices, she stressed the need for early initiation of babies to breast milk immediately after birth.

She noted that 45 percent of preventable death of under five children is due to malnutrition and added that breastfeeding reduces child mortality with health benefit in adulthood.

However, she called for the provision of breastfeeding friendly work places in both public and private sector which support breastfeeding break, facilities such such as breastfeeding/ lactation rooms, onsite creche and flexible work hour

Addressing the gathering, Assistant State Nutrition Officer, Mrs. Kikelomo Adejuwon noted that there was improvement in the percentage of exclusively breastfed children of ages of 0 – 6 months between July and December, 2019 and called for more effort in the area.

According to her, the improvement was made possible through sensitisation of health workers on code of breast milk substitute, sensitisation of senior health practitioners on infant and young child feeding strategy and code of marketing of breast milk substitute, training of senior health professionals on lactation management and annual celebration of world breastfeeding week among others.

Nutrition Focal Officer, Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Olu Agbi explained that people require an adequate diet to maintain the structure of tissues of the body especially the growing child and women in production.

He stated that although most food contain more than one nutrients, no single food item supplies all the essential nutrients.

Wife of the state chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, Mrs Ayo – Oladapo Esther called on christian women to sensitise their members on the need for exclusive breastfeeding especially among young couples.