Breastfeeding Decrease Risk Of Cancer, Others- NAWOJ
OLABISI OLALEYE
The umbrella body of female journalists,
Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ ), Lagos State breastfeeding offers symbiotic benefits because it decreases the risk of mothers developing breast cancer, ovarian cancer, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.
NAWOJ maintained that infants are protected against diarrheal diseases usually resulting from dirty water, food, teats and bottles.Themed: “’Protect Breastfeeding: A Shared Responsibility”.
Comrade Adeola Ekine, NAWOJ Chairperson, Lagos said at the weekend to commemorate world breastfeeding week that mothers need support from all stakeholders, including the employers, immediate environment, their partners, health workers and the mass media.
“World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from 1 to 7 August to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world. It commemorates the Innocenti Declaration signed in August 1990 by government policymakers, WHO, UNICEF and other partner stakeholders to protect, promote and support breastfeeding.
“The theme is aligned with thematic area 2 of the WBW-SDG 2030 campaign which highlights the links between breastfeeding and survival, health and wellbeing of women, children and nations”.
On the rationale behind the annual walk, Ekine said, Breastfeeding walk In Ikeja/Alausa was to sensitize further the community on the need to “Exclusively breastfeed our babies, the role of stakeholders in encouraging and helping mothers breastfeed their babies adequately while providing a conducive environment breastfeeding- friendly for mothers at home and in the workplace.
“Beautiful women of substance, it’s worthy to note that Breastfeeding promotes better health for mothers and children alike. Increasing breastfeeding to near-universal levels could save more than 800 000 lives every year, mostly children under six months. It is even estimated that increased breastfeeding could avert 20 000 maternal deaths each year due to breast cancer. Is it not better to have a sagged breast and save lives than living a life of ignorance?”, She cautioned.
