UNICEF urges fathers’ support for exclusive breastfeeding

Exclusive breastfeeding has been touted as the most effective way to ensure optimal growth and development in infants.

According to Philomena Irene, Nutrition Specialist of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Bauchi field office, fathers and grandmothers also have significant parts to play in supporting and promoting six months exclusive breastfeeding.

Speaking at the 2024 Media Dialogue tagged “Journalists As Change Agents” for exclusive breastfeeding held in Adamawa state, Philomena emphasised the importance of exclusive breastfeeding in reducing health problems and protecting the rights of babies to survive and thrive.

She added that it is a simple, cost-effective, and natural way to provide infants with the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development.

“Exclusive breastfeeding has the potential to save more children’s lives than any other preventive intervention.

“Exclusively breastfed children have at least six times greater chances of survival in the early months than non-exclusively breastfed children, and an exclusively breastfed child is 14 times less likely to die in the first six months than a non-breastfed child.”, she asserted.

Also speaking, the UNICEF Bauchi field office communication officer, Opeyemi Olagunju explained that the media engagement was organised to draw attention to the importance of exclusive breastfeeding, especially in the first six months.

He said the session focuses on the role of fathers and other community-level outliers, such as grandmothers, in supporting and ensuring exclusive breastfeeding.