A non-governmental organization, Health Education and Empowerment Initiative, in celebrating the World Breastfeeding Week for 2017, has integrated childhood immunization into its campaign.
The integration is to have a holistic approach to address childhood illnesses and improve childhood nutrition, leading to childhood growth and development of the children.
The Executive Director of the organization and a public Health practitioner, Folasade Ofurune, made this assertion on Tuesday in Ijoko, Ogun State during the flag-off of the World Breastfeeding Week, which took place in her office, with the theme: “Sustaining breastfeeding together.”
The flag off of this year’s world breastfeeding week, according to Ofurune, coincided with the launch of the organization’s maiden immunization programme.
She noted that her centre has been approved by the government to carry out childhood immunization programmes.
This, she stated, was a result of her Sweet Mother Project, a maternal and child health education project, that was sponsored by Child Health Foundation, USA and has run for close to 11 years and still waxing stronger.
The World Breastfeeding Week programme included talks, video presentations on breastfeeding, question and answer session and dispelling of some myths associated with breastfeeding.
In attendance were pregnant women and nursing mothers, whose babies and little children were also immunized during the programme.
In her presentation, Ofurune highlighted that breast milk provides the ideal nutrition for infants.
She said it has a nearly perfect mix of vitamins, protein and fat, which amounts to everything the baby needs to grow.
She added: “And it’s all provided in a form more easily digested than infant formula.
“Breast milk contains antibodies that help your baby fight off viruses and bacteria.
“Breastfeeding lowers baby’s risk of having asthma or allergies.
“Plus, babies who are breastfed exclusively for the first six months, without any formula, have fewer ear infections, respiratory illnesses and bouts of diarrhea.
“They also have fewer hospitalizations and trips to the doctor.
“Breastfeeding has been linked to higher IQ scores in later childhood.
“What’s more, the physical closeness, skin-to-skin touching and eye contact all help baby bond with mother and feel secure.
“Breastfed infants are more likely to gain the right amount of weight as they grow rather than become overweight children.”
Ofurune further noted that breastfeeding also plays a role in the prevention of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
She said it has been thought to lower the risk of diabetes, obesity and certain cancers as well.
She also highlighted the increased benefits of breastfeeding to the mothers, namely: breastfeeding burns extra calories, so it can help lose pregnancy weight faster; it releases the hormone oxytocin, which helps the uterus return to its pre-pregnancy size; and may reduce uterine bleeding after birth, adding: “Breastfeeding also lowers your risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
“It may lower the risk of osteoporosis too.”
Ofurune further highlighted the need for the government, corporate organizations and development partners to forge new and purposeful partnerships and stress the importance of breastfeeding as a booster to maternal and child health through community based sensitization programmes, especially at the grassroots.
She added: “Only then can we campaign for a generation and commit to achieving the SDGs by 2030.”
The program officer of the organization, Ronke Adekitan, while facilitating the programme, stated that the goal of HEDEN is to champion exclusive breastfeeding by mothers for their babies for at least first six months in order to get the incredible health benefits, to fulfill the all-vital nutrients, to encourage mothers for the healthy growth and development of their children, to guard them from the lethal health problems and diseases including neonatal jaundice, pneumonia, cholera and many more.
Another programme officer of the organization, Gideon Amusan, while speaking to the press, reiterated that it is very necessary for mothers to get timely support and healthcare education to their babies, including breast feeding.
Amusan said: “The continuous support and intervention from HEDEN can bring the gradual and permanent changes in the social living and ultimately healthy and disease free community. “
He said the World Breastfeeding Week provides opportunity to improve breastfeeding practices in Nigeria.
The week-long programme will continue at HEDEN’s office and has long been incorporated into the organization’s Sweet Mother Project.
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