The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, in Ekiti state has urged nursing mothers on adequate breastfeeding for health care support of the new borns.
Women journalists made the statement to commemorate this year’s breastfeeding week. The theme of the celebration is :Invest in breastfeeding, invest in the future.
Breastfeeding week comes up annually between 1st- to 7th of August.
The NAWOJ Chairperson,Mrs Adewumi Ademiju in a press release signed by the Secretary, Mrs Funmi Falae also tasked relevant stakeholders on adequate support for the nursing mothers to help in providing required care for the babies.
Ademiju stated that ” Breastfeeding is beneficial to both mothers and the infants Adequate breastfeeding for baby is an health care support that will boost immunity against all forms of diseases. A baby that is adequately breastfed will be protected against deadly diseases.
“The health benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and baby are well established .
The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life, with continued breastfeeding into and beyond the second year ”
NAWOJ also called on Government to pass and enforce national laws and policies that reflect the collective responsibility to protect, promote and support breastfeeding.
” By enacting legislation to restrict the marketing of breastmilk substitutes-and monitoring its compliance-governments can act against unethical business practices and send the message that breastfeeding matters, NAWOJ said.