“I Regret Failing To Promote Exclusive Breastfeeding For My Children” – Father of 3

…Urges Others To Learn From His Mistake

From Paul Orude Bauchi

As the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) continues to harp on the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding, a resident of Bauchi State, Ibrahim Mohammed Kobi, has spoken of his failure to taken advantage of the huge benefits of the practice.

Kobi narrated how he failed to deploy his influence as a father and knowledge as an informed citizen despite the sustained campaign by UNICEF and partners to promote exclusive breastfeed for children in the state 

“I heard about exclusive breastfeeding on the radio through interviews and special programmes 14 years ago and I was really impressed,” Kobi, a father of three, said.

“Unfortunately, I didn’t take advantage of the benefits for my children because of the nature of my work”

Kobi, who spoke with our correspondent at Kobi Primary Health Care in Bauchi, on Thursday, urges every father to learn from his mistake.

“Every husband must ensure that his wife practices exclusive breastfeeding of their baby,” he stated.

He made this known in an interview with our correspondent at the health facility, as part of collaboration between the media and UNICEF to promote engagement of fathers in the campaign to sustain exclusive breastfeeding to six months of age.

Philomena Irene, Nutrition Specialist, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Bauchi Field Office, BFO, says exclusive breastfeeding provides all of the fluid and nutrients needed for optimal growth and development during the first six months.

The World Health Organisation, WHO and UNICEF recommend that children initiate breastfeeding within the first hour of birth and be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life.

This means no other foods or liquids are provided, including water, and infants should be breastfed on demand – that is as often as the child wants, day and night, she says.

Irene explains breastfeeding gives all children the healthiest start in life and offers life-saving benefits to children and women.

Despite being well informed about the benefits of the practice, Kobi confessed being indifferent when his wife gave birth to their first child in 2011.

“It’s because I was always not at home when my wife gave birth so I didn’t take it serious though I was aware of its huge benefits,” Kobi, an electrician, recalled.

“I would be far away working for months, mostly outside the state when my wife delivered and would be unable to be present to monitor and support her to do exclusive breastfeeding for the baby”

Irene says breastfeeding helps to prevent malnutrition in all its forms, ensures food security for infants and young children.

“My regret was that I was not at home most of the time to encourage my wife to engage in exclusive breast feeding our children,” he said.

“Since I was not always around I did not give her the permission to do so in my absence.

“Now that I have learnt a huge lesson, I advise you as a father to encourage your wife to do it whether you are around or not, though if you are not around to encourage and support them they may not do it properly”

Kobi’s children are aged 11, eight and three respectively.

He had brought the third child, Mohammed Sani, for immunization at the health PHC facility in Kobi when the interview occurred.

“I traveled a lot outside the state so it was difficult for us to meet up,” he stressed.

“I have seen the difference between children that are exclusively breastfed and children that are not.

“The children that are breastfed exclusively are faring better health wise and academically”

Kobi revealed that his wife is now three months pregnant and since he had learned his lesson, he would never make rom for excuse again, and would not take the practice for granted again.

“With the high cost of things in Nigeria today and the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding, I have no choice than to do it,” he assured.

“When our fourth baby is born by God’s grace, I wil see to it that the child is exclusively breastfed.

“I will gladly inform you when my wife gives birth and promise you that the baby will be exclusive breast fed

“I will invite you to monitor the baby.

“Henceforth I will campaign for exclusive breastfeeding because I discovered that my children, especially Mohammed always falls sick unlike the children of my friends who did exclusive breastfeeding”

Irene says 2024 World Breastfeeding Week with the Theme ‘Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All,’ underscores our commitment to ensuring that every mother in BFO States has access to the support she needs, regardless of her circumstances.to avoid the past mistakes”

She discloses that the father has crucial role to play to close the gap in breastfeeding inequalities in the communities.

She laments that the 2021 Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey assessment indicate  for Bauchi State indicate a low rate of 26.4 per cent of children exclusively breastfeed.

She urged the media to be agents of change to reverse the current abysmal exclusive breastfeeding rate in Bauchi State.

The UNICEF Nutrition Specialist says the father is encouraged to aid his wife with childcare and household chores so the baby’s mother can take time to breastfeed babies.

Father should, “Ensure that animal source foods are always available for the baby by keeping for the family milk and eggs that might otherwise be sold or by purchasing milk and eggs as needed, beginning at six months,” she adds.

She urges fathers to also check in with their wives about how the plan for feeding the baby is going, at least once a week.