The Lagos State Government has urged mothers to embrace the culture of breastfeeding for the optimal survival of their babies.
The government said adequate nutrition inherent in the breast milk during infancy and early childhood is critical to the optimal psychological development and general wellbeing of any child.
Addressing journalists yesterday during the commemoration of this year's World Breastfeeding Day at the state secretariat in Alausa, Ikeja, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Health, Dr. Yewande Adeshina, said cow milk should not be substitute for natural breast milk.
She said: "Breast milk itself is the gold infant nutrition for newborn. It possesses anti-infective properties that help to protect infant against diseases. Human milk differs significantly from that of other animals. When compare with cow milk, human milk looks watery. Human milk is easier for the baby's immature stomach to digest.
"Cow milk, on the other hand, contains high protein than is necessary for human's newborn; much of which is curd which will clot in the baby's stomach. In addition and among other differences, the protein in human is much finer and more easily digestible for young infants. It is also good to know that milk production in breast feeding respond to consistent suckling of the breast by the infant."
The special adviser reiterated that evidence abounds that improving nutrition for mothers and children is one of the most cost effective and impactful tools for poverty alleviation and sustainable development globally.
According to her, poor nutrition during the 1,000 days between a woman's pregnancy and a child's second birthday can result in severe and irreversible damage to a child's body and brain, stressing that these days are considered "window of opportunity when the right nutrition should be optimal and has lifelong impact on the child's future which could help in breaking the vicious poverty cycle of the household to which the child belongs."
She, however, appealed to all private employers of labour to provide an enabling environment for their female employees to breastfeed their children as a major step to enhance their growth.
Adeshina urged mothers to be committed to exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a child's life before adding complimentary foods which are consumed by the family until the child is two years of age and above.
National Mirror