Group Advises Nursing Mothers On Exclusive Breastfeeding

Pregnant women and lactating mothers in Plateau have been advised by a group, Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN) to do exclusive breastfeeding for their children.

Dr Paul Gangjang, Coordinator of ANRiN in the state, gave the advice during a sensitisation programme it organised to commemorate the 2022 World Breastfeeding Week on Thursday in Jos.

He said exclusive breastfeeding also enhances proper child development.

Ganjang, who mentioned the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding to the mother and the child, maintained that such practices promote a healthy society.

"We will not get tired of encouraging nursing mothers to practise exclusive breastfeeding for their children because it is for the good of the society.

"This is why we are here today to mark this year’s breastfeeding week and to further remind nursing mothers and pregnant women of the need to give their children only breast milk for the first six months of birth.

"The breast milk contains all the nutrients the child needs for proper development and can chase away all forms of diseases from the child’s body,” he said.

Also commenting, Lydia Luka, the Nutrition Officer of the state, urged nursing mothers to introduce their children to breast milk early, insisting that such would enable them get used to their mothers’ breast and how to do proper sucking.

"We always advise that the child should be initiated to the breast milk one hour after birth so as to enhance free flow of breast milk from the mother to the child.

"We also want to encourage women to start proper complementary feeding for their children after the six- month exclusive breastfeeding.

"But, mothers are advised to breastfeed their children until they are two years old,” she said.