PARTICIPANTS at a two-day workshop on promoting Exclusive Breast Feeding *(EBF) have described the media as a viable platform which can help in championing the course of creating more awareness on EBF among the nursing mothers.
THE participants disclosed this during a media dialogue to promote awareness on EBF and infant nutrition in commemoration of the 2022 World Breast Feeding Week, Bauchi Field Office (BFO) States, organized by Bauchi Radio Corporation (BRC) in collaboration with UNICEF Bauchi Office, held at the Crest Hotel Jos, recently. The participants pointed out that there was a strong need for more education to care givers and policy makers among others on the need to encourage EBF. He stressed that EBF awareness was supposed to start right from the day pregnant women start their antenatal.
They also discouraged artificial food during EBF by nursing mothers. They emphasized the need for the mothers to be eating good locally made family food.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, BRC/UNICEF Desk officer, Umar Muhammad Shira expressed optimism with the programme and thanked all the participants for honoring the invitation for the two-day workshop.
Shira who also read out the meeting’s objectives said that it was to strengthen the capacity of media partners towards child reporting, particularly nutrition using EBF approaches, to strengthen the capacity of media partners to promote safe EBF in Covid-19 era, create awareness on the role of chain actors in promoting safe EBF and to also use media as advocacy channels for positive policies towards nutrition especially during EBF. He said that UNICEF Nigeria has shifted its focus to prevention of malnutrition. He called on the journalists not to relent in their efforts in promoting EBF practice through their various medium at all times.
Also in her remarks, Nutrition Specialist, UNICEF, Bauchi Field Office, Philomena Irene said that the issue of breast feeding was becoming alarming amongst the five states.
