Balarabe: Kaduna government committed to promoting exclusive breastfeeding

Hadiza Balarabe, the Kaduna deputy governor, says the state government is committed to promoting exclusive breastfeeding to reduce infant and child mortality.

Balarabe spoke in Kaduna on Thursday at a press conference to mark the 2024 World Breastfeeding Week.

The deputy governor noted that breast milk offers essential nutrients and protection against common childhood illnesses.

She assured that the government is taking decisive steps to support breastfeeding mothers, citing data from the 2021 multiple indicator cluster survey that showed a drop in early breastfeeding initiation rates from 35.9 percent to 13 percent.

She highlighted various initiatives the Kaduna state government has taken to create access to quality healthcare services, including the deployment of qualified health providers and the provision of necessary vaccines.

Other measures, the deputy governor said, are the strengthening of primary healthcare structures, the approval of six-month paid maternity leave, the establishment of nutrition corners, and the creation of crèches in government offices.

She stressed the importance of colostrum, the first milk produced by mothers for infants, calling it the “most potent natural immune system booster known to science”.

She urged lactating mothers to give breast milk to their babies immediately after birth.

“Breast milk provides a safe, clean, and nutrient-filled formula that protects babies against many common childhood illnesses,” she said.

“The governor prioritises reducing infant and child mortality, as targeted by the sustainable development goals (SDGs), by harnessing the power of breast milk.

“I am proud to say that our governor, Senator Uba Sani, is leading the north-west zone in crafting a collective approach to address insecurity in the area.

“I believe that soon the problem will be a thing of the past, providing increased opportunities for families to support breastfeeding mothers.

“Our human capital development programmes will amount to nothing if our babies do not survive and thrive. Let us all rise to close the gap and support breastfeeding for all in Kaduna state.

“Breast milk is central to the nurturing and survival of our babies and our humanity.

“Please let us close the gap created by the absence or poor practice of breastfeeding among newborns.”