Nasir Shuaibu 
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has revealed that despite its proven benefits, exclusive breastfeeding rate in Nigeria remains low.
The global body equally revealed that many mothers face cultural, social and practical barriers that prevent them from breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months of their child’s life.
A press statement issued by UNICEF Nigeria’s Country Representative, Cristian Munduate, on the occasion of the World Breastfeeding Week (WBW), indicated that in the last 12 years, the number of infants under six months of age who are exclusively breastfed in Nigeria has increased by more than 10 per cent.
“Today, 34 per cent of infants in Nigeria benefit from this healthy start in life, translating to hundreds of thousands of babies whose lives have been saved by breastfeeding.
“While this significant leap brings us closer to the World Health Organization target of increasing exclusive breastfeeding to at least 50 per cent by 2025, there are persistent challenges that must be addressed.
“Breastfeeding is the foundation of lifelong health and well-being. It is a simple, cost effective and natural way to provide infants with the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development”, Munduate said.
