WBW: CS-SUNN sensitizes traditional birth attendants in Kaduna
WBW: CS-SUNN sensitizes traditional birth attendants in Kaduna
By: Femi Mustapha
In continuation of the World Breastfeeding Week, (WBW), the Civil Society-Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria, (CS-SUNN), has taken its sensitisation outreach on exclusive breastfeeding to Traditional Birth Attendants, (TBA) in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Speaking at Rigachikun, CS-SUNN’s Abdulkadir Alabelewe, said the WBW is celebrated from 1st to 7th, August and the 2023 theme is “Let’s make breastfeeding and work, work!”
He said there are some myths and misconceptions surrounding exclusive breastfeeding especially colostrum.
According to him, “We have some myth and misconceptions that are causing barriers against the practice of exclusive breastfeeding, and that is one of the reasons why CS-SUNN is here to educate and create awareness that breastfeeding is a foundation for life and the best milk for every baby. We are here to tell people that colostrum is not dirty, it is the first immunisation a baby gets after delivery,” he said.
Similarly, CS-SUNN’s Mary Sebastian said breastfeeding is very important for the first 1000 days of a baby, and there are no disputes about the health benefits accrued to it.
She therefore advised the TBAs to ensure that they step down the sensitization to expectant mothers.
Sebastian urged the civil society organizations and policy makers to make the process of breastfeeding lactating and expectant mothers a worthwhile and successful experience, by creating an enabling environment for them.
She also called for the creation of lactating rooms and a compulsory six months maternity leave for women and the implementation of the six months.
In her own part, a TBA, Hajiya Karimatu Musa, said it is not that her patients were not breastfed, but what she has to enlightened them now is exclusive breastfeeding from 0 to six months. That is, zero water because with water, the baby will not get the actual thing.
In her remarks, the Nutrition Focal Person in Igabi LGA, Lami Adama Abdullahi, commended the CS-SUNN for the sensitization exercise, saying, “The exercise will add more to our women who will now be conscious of exclusive breastfeeding. We urge them to take the message to their colleagues and extend it down to the grassroots.”
