Improper Breastfeeding Claims 1.3m Infants Yearly

About 1.3 Million babies die annually in Nigeria as a result of improper breast feeding.

A consultant pediatrician at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) Professor Alice   Nte disclosed this at the 2013 Breastfeeding week organised by the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) in conjunction with ministry of Women Affairs in Port Harcourt.

Professor Nte equally said that the lives of 220,000 children will be saved this year with the increasing awareness on breast feeding.

She said that the World breastfeeding week was organised to draw attention to the importance of peer support in helping mothers to establish and sustain breast feeding of their babies for atleast six months while the period of maternity leave should be extended to six months.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Commissioner for Women Affairs Mrs. Joeba West has said that proposals for a centre  for training of personnel to support breast feeding mothers would be submitted to the state executive council.

Mrs West who declared opened the programme also said that the Rivers State government supports exclusive breast feeding for infants.

She commended the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) for initiating this year’s celebration and urged nursing mothers at the event to assist in the spread of the information across the state.

Also speaking, the executive director of the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) Mr. Moble Pepple said RSSDA is ready to enter into collaboration that will improve the condition of the people.

Pepple who was represented by the General Manager, Human Resources and Administration, Mr. Tonye Sukubo, said that breast feeding was very important as it helps to check infant mortality.

He listed other benefits of breast feeding to include”, improving the health of the family and creating closer relationship between mother and child amongst other.