WBW:  UNICEF Solicits Fathers’ Support To Promote Exclusive Breastfeeding In North East

Paul Orude

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is urging fathers and communities in the North East to collaborate with the fund to promote Exclusively Breastfeeding.

Although breast milk is crucial for the first six months of newborns’ survival, the level of participation in Exclusive Breastfeeding is low in the north east  

This is despite the World Health Organisation, WHO, recommendation that exclusive breastfeeding is significant for the well-being of infants.

Many mothers in the subregion still  do not exclusively breastfeed their babies due to age-long myths, beliefs and tradition.

Although much awareness has been created on EB, the North East  lags behind as statistics show.

In order to  close the gap,  UNICEF Bauchi Field Office has.organised a two – day media engagement in Yola, Adamawa State.

UNICEF hopes the media engagement will create further awareness as it solicits the active participation of fathers and communities.

The event, with the theme ” Beyond Mothers: Analysing the role of fathers and community stakeholders in promoting breastfeeding,” will draw participants from the UNICEF Bauchi Field office, states of Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Plateau and Taraba.

“Breastfeeding is the foundation of lifelong health and well-being,” the invitation states,” UNICEF Bauchi Field office, states. 

“It is a simple, cost-effective, and natural way to provide infants with the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development. 

“This year, the World Breastfeeding week is themed: “Closing the gap: Breastfeeding support for all.”

“It is therefore crucial to emphasise the need to improve breastfeeding support as a critical action for reducing health inequity and protecting the rights of mothers and babies to survive and thrive

“As part of initiatives to draw attention to breastfeeding, especially in the first six months,  is organisng a two-day media engagement session, which seeks to spotlight the role of fathers and other community level outliers such as grandmothers, etc, in supporting and ensuring breastfeeding”

Participants are expected to arrive at  Yola, Tuesday, August 13, 2024.

“There will be an in-house meeting on August 14, and field trip to Local Government Areas in Adamawa State to interact with fathers and community stakeholders who are championing breastfeeding on August 15,” it added.