Over 80% of Jigawa mothers not exclusively breastfeeding – State govt

Jigawa State Government has said over 80% of mothers do not practice exclusive breastfeeding from 0- 6 months in the state.

Commissioner for Health in the state, Dr.Salisu Mu’azu disclosed this in a dialogue with members of the media to commemorate world breastfeeding week organized by the Jigawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency in collaboration with UNICEF.

Represented by the Executive Secretary of Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Kabiru Ibrahim, Mu’azu said statistics indicate that only 15.6 lactating mothers are exclusively breastfeeding their babies in the state.

He said, ” the latest SMART survey of 2018 indicates that only 15.6% lactating mothers are exclusively breastfeeding their babies, So we are struggling with a large number of more than 80% Women are not actually exclusively breastfeeding”

“So we need to do a lot of work to ensure that lactating mothers are exclusively breastfeeding their babies so that by next year we achieved at least 30%”

“Therefore we are using this means to kindly let women know that breastfeeding is safe and is encouraged and is actually harmless completely.

“Breastfeeding provides a baby with all the nutrition they need for their first 6 months and it also gives the baby opportunity to grow healthy and strong as well as the mothers”

He said the theme of this year’s exclusive breastfeeding week is talking about three main issues, ‘scaling up exclusive breastfeeding, promoting the practice, as well as also supporting mothers to exclusively breastfeed their children’.