Child advocate seeks creation of breastfeeding-friendly workplaces, communities

Elizabeth Alonge, the founder and executive director of Child Health Advocacy Initiative, has advocated for the establishment of breastfeeding-friendly environments in healthcare facilities, businesses, and communities in order to guarantee that lactating women receive sufficient support.

In a statement honouring World nursing Week, the child health advocate mentioned that cultural attitudes, a lack of access to reliable information, and a lack of community, spouse, and family support were all obstacles to nursing in Nigeria.

She also disputed the idea that nursing in public is humiliating and shameful, supporting the installation of lactation cubicles in public spaces like offices.

Breastfeeding education and awareness campaigns, community outreach initiatives, and workshops aimed at enlightening moms and families about the value of breastfeeding are all ways to support and encourage breastfeeding, this should be done using local languages and contexts to communicate the benefits of breastfeeding.

“Engage community leaders and influencers, support breastfeeding-friendly environments by encouraging employers to provide lactation rooms and flexible work arrangements for breastfeeding mothers, engage husbands and family members in breastfeeding education and support, and encourage them to be involved in caring for the baby,” Alonge said.

WBW is celebrated annually from August 1st to 7th, to raise awareness and promote the benefits of breastfeeding.

This year’s theme is “Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All.”

In honour of the WBW, the World Health Organisation and the United Nations Children’s Fund, on August 1, called for an improvement in global breastfeeding rates.

In a joint statement signed by UNICEF’s Executive Director, Catherine Russell, and WHO Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, stated that in the past 12 years, only 48 per cent of infants worldwide have been exclusively breastfed.
throughout the first hour of birth, babies should begin nursing, and throughout the first few months, they should only be nursed, according to recommendations from UNICEF and the WHO.

The organisations stress that breastfeeding is essential for ensuring healthy growth and development in order to boost an infant's chances of survival. It also gives babies all the energy and nutrients they require for the first six months of life.

Furthermore, the CHAI ED underlined that healthcare professionals have a vital role in encouraging, supporting, and raising the nation's breastfeeding rates because mothers and families see them as authority and reliable sources of knowledge.

"During prenatal visits, healthcare providers can inform moms about the benefits of breastfeeding, laying the groundwork for a healthy breastfeeding experience. They can guarantee that moms receive the appropriate assistance and guidance in the immediate postpartum period, when breastfeeding is established and offer ongoing support and guidance to mothers throughout the breastfeeding journey, helping to address any challenges or concerns that may arise,” she added.

Alonge further urged healthcare providers to advocate hospital policies that support breastfeeding and promote skin-to-skin contact and rooming-in.

The child advocate called for the training of more lactation consultants and peer counsellors, the development of breastfeeding education materials in local languages and the establishment of breastfeeding support groups in communities and online.

She added, “Collaborate with healthcare providers to provide lactation support and resources. Provide access to breast pumps and other breastfeeding equipment. Support research on lactation and breastfeeding in Nigeria. Develop and implement policies that support breastfeeding in the workplace and public spaces.
"Participate in community leadership and influencer campaigns to support lactation and nursing. Make use of technology to offer online resources and assistance for lactation. In order to find gaps and enhance services, it is important to regularly monitor and assess lactation assistance and resources in remote locations.

The founder of CHAI pointed out that malnutrition and diseases associated with early childhood feeding, as well as mortality, continue to be major public health concerns in Nigeria, even in the face of several laws and initiatives designed to support and encourage newborn and early child feeding habits.

The National Breastfeeding Policy, the National Policy on Food and Nutrition, the National Policy on Infant and Young Child Feeding, and the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative were introduced in 1992, 1998, 2001, and 2005, respectively.

"In spite of these efforts, seven states out of thirty-six offer six months fully paid maternity leave; only 34 per cent of children aged zero to six months are exclusively breastfed; Women in the informal sector have nearly no support for breastfeeding,” Alonge stated.

She also stated Nigeria was far from reaching the World Health Assembly’s 70 per cent target by 2030.
However, Alonge pointed out that the Federal Ministry of Health was pushing for more support by educating stakeholders on nutrition for mothers, infants, and young children. This training will then be given to local government health workers in cooperation with the World Bank and other stakeholders.

In order to make sure infant formula did not have a detrimental effect on nursing, she also advocated for control and limitations on the marketing strategies used for it.