The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has raised an alarm that Nigeria loses no fewer than $21 billion yearly to poor breastfeeding even as it disclosed that the country stands to gain a $35 investment return for every $1 investment in breastfeeding.
The body also said that the country loses 103,742 children to the deficit in breastfeeding.
Speaking during a two-day media workshop organised by UNICEF in collaboration with Federal Ministry of Information, and funded by UK Department of International Development, DFID, in Ibadan, Oyo State, UNICEF’s nutrition specialist, Mrs. Ada Ezeogu, explained that despite the benefits of breastfeeding which spans beyond saving lives to one of the most cost-effective investments, Nigeria loses 103,742 children annually to poor breast feeding.
According to her, the $21 dollars economic cost to the nation due to poor breastfeeding per year is equivalent to 4.1 percent of Gross National Income, GNI, cost.
She said: “Breastfeeding is not only an investment in improving children’s health and saving lives but also an investment in human capital development that can benefit a country’s economy.
“Breastfeeding is one of the best investments in global health: every $1 invested in breastfeeding generates $35 in economic returns.
“In order to meet the World Health Assembly target of increasing the percentage of children under 6 months of age who are exclusively breastfed to at least 50 percent by 2025, an additional $4.70 per newborn is required.”
Ezeogu stated that greater progress was possible with the right level of ambition and the right policies and investment; countries can fully realize the potential gains from breastfeeding.
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