SDG 2&3: UNICEF, WHO seek breastfeeding-friendly environments for Nigerian mothers & babies

In a joint statement to commemorate the 2021 World Breastfeeding week, the UNICEF Executive Director, Henrietta Fore, and the Director-General of the WHO, Dr. Tedros  Adhanom  Ghebreyesus observed that the exclusive breastfeeding rates in Nigeria still falls significantly below the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals target. 

As a vital source of nutrition that can save children’s lives and contribute to improved health outcomes for children and mothers, breastfeeding is a critical key in achieving SDG 2 & 3 — which include ending hunger, improving nutrition and promoting health and wellbeing. 

The statement noted that in Nigeria, where 1 in 8 children do not reach their 5th birthday and 3 in 10 children are stunted, optimal breastfeeding practices are known to reduce neonatal and child morbidities and mortality rates as well as stunting reduction. 

It was noted that from available statistics in Nigeria,  the average duration of exclusive breastfeeding is approximately 3 months and only 3 out of every 10 children under 6 months of age were exclusively breastfed (29 percent). 

While pointing out that is an improvement from the 17 percent in 2013 to 29 percent  in 2018 (NDHS, 2013; 2018), the statement said it still falls significantly below the target of 50 percent set by the World Health Assembly to be achieved in 2025 and the SDG target for 2030. 

"The percentage of children who were breastfed within 1 hour of birth (42 percent) remains less than 50 percent. Breastfeeding rates in Nigeria reduces with age, 83 percent of the children are breastfed up to one year while 28 percent are breastfeeding till two years. Furthermore, the proportion of children who are not breastfeeding increases with age.

 “At the start of this year, governments, donors, civil society and the private sector united to launch the Nutrition for Growth Year of Action. The Year of Action is a historic opportunity to transform the way the world tackles the global commitment to eliminate child malnutrition. Breastfeeding is central to realising this commitment."

In the statement, it was stressed that initiation of breastfeeding within the first hour of birth, followed by exclusive breastfeeding for six months and continued breastfeeding for up to two years or beyond, offer a powerful line of defence against all forms of child malnutrition, including wasting and obesity.

"Optimal nutrition provided by breastfeeding along with nurturing, care, and stimulation strengthens a child’s brain development with positive impacts that endure over a lifetime.

"Breastfeeding also acts as babies’ first vaccine, protecting them against many common childhood illnesses.

The statement noted that while there has been progress in breastfeeding rates in the last four decades – with a 50 per cent increase in the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding globally – the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the fragility of those gains.

“In many countries, the pandemic has caused significant disruptions in breastfeeding support services, while increasing the risk of food insecurity and malnutrition. Several countries have reported that producers of baby foods have compounded these risks by invoking unfounded fears that breastfeeding can transmit COVID-19 and marketing their products as a safer alternative to breastfeeding."