“Bauchi Joins Global Call For Six Months Exclusive Breastfeeding”

Bauchi Residents Advocate Exclusive Breastfeeding for Six Months

In Bauchi State, residents have called for exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of an infant’s life, emphasizing its ability to reduce neonatal infections, infant mortality, and even cardiovascular diseases in adulthood.

According to iReporter Online, this practice is crucial for improving child health outcomes in the region.

While acknowledging existing challenges, community members stressed that support from family, healthcare workers, and local initiatives must be strengthened to promote and sustain exclusive breastfeeding across the state.

According to iReporter Online, interviews with nursing mothers, fathers, and Nutrition Officers at Primary Health Centres (PHCs) revealed the many benefits of exclusive breastfeeding.

They highlighted reduced illness rates, improved cognitive development, and the convenience and cost-effectiveness it offers mothers.

Danjuma Mohammed, a civil servant from Yelwa Tudu and father of four, underscored the importance of exclusive breastfeeding. He attributed the robust health of his children to his active support for his wife’s breastfeeding practice.

“My children are strong and healthy because I hardly visit the hospital for treatment of any major ailment. From the time they were born, I encouraged my wife to breastfeed because I was educated on its benefits,” he said.

At the Misau Town Primary Health Centre, Nutrition Desk Officer Garba Gumau explained that they regularly organize sensitization programs for expectant and nursing mothers, as well as meetings for fathers and elderly women, to encourage family support for exclusive breastfeeding.

Two nursing mothers, Sabiya Nasiru and Amina Lawal of Misau LGA, shared their experiences, highlighting the positive effects of breastfeeding.

“Breastfeeding is cost-effective for me because my family does not spend money on baby food. I only give my child breast milk, and as you can see, my baby is healthy,” Amina said.

Sabiya added that she strictly adhered to the advice from midwives at Misau Town PHC to avoid giving her babies water in the first six months, despite contrary advice from some elderly women.

“My cousin’s children, who were given water alongside breast milk, were often sick and required frequent hospital visits. Since I followed health workers’ advice to breastfeed exclusively, my children have been healthy, and I rarely take them to the hospital,” she explained.

The Bauchi Field Office of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) highlighted breastfeeding’s role in child spacing and reducing childhood killer diseases.

They appealed to the Bauchi State government to approve six months’ maternity leave for nursing mothers, which would allow mothers to exclusively breastfeed and provide better care and hygiene.

“Breast milk is the baby’s first food and vital for developing the immune system and nutrition,” a UNICEF representative said.

“We promote the 1-6-24 formula: initiate breastfeeding within the first hour, exclusively breastfeed for six months, and continue breastfeeding alongside complementary foods up to 24 months.”

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Dr. Nuzhat Rafique stressed that mothers need collective support to breastfeed exclusively for six months and continue with complementary feeding until 24 months for optimal child health.

According to iReporter Online, this combined effort from families, healthcare providers, and government policies is key to improving infant health and wellbeing in Bauchi State.

”IREPORTER REPORTS”