The United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in Borno has called on mothers to practice breastfeeding, saying food insecurity is on the rise.
The Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Maiduguri office, Phuong Nguyen, made this call on Thursday during the inauguration of the 2021 World Breastfeeding Week at the Mohammad Shuwa Memorial Hospital, Maiduguri.
Nguyen said: “Food insecurity and job loss are on the rise because of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the disposable income of millions of families threatened, investments in breast milk substitutes will further deplete scarce resources for struggling families.
“Supporting new mothers to breastfeed exclusively for at least six months is the best method of child nutrition in these critical times.”
She further advised the public and private sectors to support new mothers with six-month paid maternity leave.
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