WBW: UNICEF Shifts Focus To Engaging Men To Promote Exclusive Breastfeeding

Philomena Irene, Nutrition Specialist, UNICEF BFO

From Paul Orude Bauchi

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Bauchi Field Office (BFO), Nigeria, has adopted a new focus of engaging men in a bid to improve exclusive breastfeeding in states lagging behind

UNICEF Nutritional Specialist, Philomena Irene, disclosed this during a two-day Media Dialogue held at Alheri Hotel, Yola, Adamawa State from August 14 to 15, 2024, which had over 60 media practitioners in attendance.

Irene, who commended the media for the sustained partnership, explained that the move was informed by the need to reverse the poor Breastfeeding rates in the five BFO states, adding that UNICEF had always engaged women.

She said this year’s theme, ‘Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All,’ underscores the fund’s “commitment to ensuring that every mother in BFO States had access to the support she needs, regardless of her circumstances”

Irene lamented that the 2021 the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) breastfeeding statistics for BFO states was poor, with Adamawa 53.3 %, Bauchi 26.4 %, Gombe 30.7 %, Plateau 38.6 %, and Taraba 37 % respectively.

Presenting a paper entitled “Journalists as Change Agents,” Irene urged the participants at the Media Dialogue to henceforth shift focus from women to engaging men and grandmothers to make the difference.

She pointed out that men and their mothers are key decision makers when it comes to breastfeeding the child.

The UNICEF Nutrition Specialist explained that field experiences showed that fathers and their mothers hold myths and misconceptions that can lead to poor Exclusive Breastfeeding outcomes.

Irene recounted the story of how a mother-in-law once stormed a meeting being held at a health facility uninvited, explaining that she had to be there to listen to whatever they had to tell her daughter-in-law principally because of her son’s child.

The UNICEF Specialist therefore urged participants to embrace the new approach to dispel myths and misconceptions about exclusive breastfeeding while convincing fathers and grandmothers to support the practice.

She emphasised that the fluid and nutrients needed for optimal growth and development during the first six months of the child are contained in breast milk, which also acts as a baby’s first vaccine and affects Health outcomes, stimulating brain development and educational outcomes.

She urged media practitioners to emphasise small doable action in the new approach to sustain exclusive breastfeeding to six months of age by fathers, such as helping wives with childcare and household chores so the baby’s mother can take time to breastfeed babies.

She said the media can also talk with family members, including grandmothers, about committing to breast milk only for the baby’s first 6 months without water or other liquids or foods among other doable action to close the gap in breastfeeding inequalities.

“We must engage all actors along the Warm Chain of Breastfeeding support: civil society organizations, governments, policymakers, health systems, workplaces, communities, and parents,” she said further

“We call on all stakeholders to invest in breastfeeding support to alleviate social inequalities and promote sustainable development in BFO States”

In their responses, participants during interaction session with Irene said they welcomed the idea.

After debating the prospects and challenges of the new approach, participants assured UNICEF of their commitment to engage men to make a difference.

Participants were optimist to promote the idea in order to reverse the current poor MICS breastfeeding.

They assured of their willingness to also replicate and localise the new approach in their respective states to promote exclusive breastfeeding practices in view of its nutritional benefits to the child and the society.