Contrary to emerging evidence which has proved that HIV-positive women who breastfeed maximise their babies’ health prospects, Nigerian mothers living with the infection are still evading the exercise.
Until recently, the World Health Organisation (WHO) advised HIV-positive mothers to avoid breastfeeding if they were able to afford, prepare and store formula milk safely.
Ajayi Maimuna is a young mother in her 30’s. She became HIV positive after her first three children and it remains a puzzle to her how she contacted the disease.
Maimuna, who spoke to our correspondent at the Heart to Heart Centre,(H2H) of the Badagry General Hospital, Lagos State, said, “I was scared my son might contact the HIV virus and as a result of that, I only breastfed him for one month and three days.
The Organisation’s Nutrition Specialist in its Bauchi Field Office, Ms Philomena Irene, gave the advise at a two-day media dialogue on child malnutrition in Yola on Thursday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the dialogue was organised by UNICEF in collaboration with the Child Rights Information Bureau (CRIB) of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture.
By Chioma Obinna , Nkiruka Nnorom and Gabriel Olawale
Nutrition experts have identified exclusive breastfeeding as one of the tools to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals – 3, SDGs, aimed at ensuring healthy lives and promote wellbeing for consumers of all ages and ending preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age by 2030″.
Some nutrition experts have stressed the importance of eating healthy meals, during and after pregnancy, to prevent under-nutrition in mothers and babies.
The experts made the assertion at a Media Workshop organised by Nestle Nigeria plc. in Agbara, Ogun.
The theme of the workshop is: “Good Nutrition, a Way of Life’’.
Dr Bartholomew Brai, the National President, Nutrition Society of Nigeria, said, “under-nutrition during critical periods in development can lead to adverse health outcomes later in life.
