The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) has said that exclusive breastfeeding can save Nigeria additional income to the tune of over $302 billion annually.
The country representative of UNICEF in Nigeria, Cristian Munduate, who spoke in Bauchi, said breastfeeding can further save the lives of 820,000 under-five children.
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Munduate called on the government at various levels in the country to support a breastfeeding-friendly environment for all working mothers, including those in the formal and informal sectors of the economy.
“Breast Milk is the first vaccine and the first food that every child receives at birth and it stands as a crucial pillar in safeguarding infants against life-threatening infections, supporting optimal brain development in children, and reducing the incidence of chronic childhood and maternal illnesses, ultimately lowering healthcare cost.
“It is not just a super-food and vaccine, it is also a smart investment, pointing out that Global analysis reveals that elevating rates of improved breastfeeding practices could save over 100,000 children’s lives each year, save $22 million in health care treatment costs related to inadequate breastfeeding, and generate an additional $21 billion for the economy over children’s productive years by increasing cognitive capacity and preventing premature mortality in the early years.
“There is evidence today that every N1,000 invested in supporting breastfeeding can yield an estimated N35,000 in economic returns for Nigeria.
“Significant strides have been made in the past two decades in Nigeria to increase exclusive breastfeeding rates, but it remains evident that more needs to be done. Only seven of the 36 states provide six months fully paid maternity leave and only 34 percent of children aged zero to six months are exclusively breastfed as recommended by UNICEF,” she said.
The UNICEF official said Nigeria is still far away from reaching the World Health Assembly’s 70 percent exclusive breastfeeding target by 2030.
She added, “To facilitate progress, it is essential for governments and businesses to play their part by providing the necessary support to mothers and caregivers.”