The United Nations Children’s Fund, (UNICEF)has advocated for a zero water campaign to promote breastfeeding for babies in their first 6 months of life.
The UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Enugu, Mrs. Juliet Chiluwe stated this in Enugu at a Zonal Media Dialogue on the 2023 World Breastfeeding Week and Zero Water Campaign organised by Anambra state government in collaboration with UNICEF Enugu Field Office
Mrs Chiluwe who was represented by Mrs Ngozi Onuora, Nutrition Specialist, UNICEF Field Office, Enugu reiterated the commitment of UNICEF to continue to champion the issues of mothers and children
She called for all hands to be on deck in sensitizing the public on exclusive breastfeeding of every child in their first six months of life.
She said “We must always sensitize and educate the masses on the need to breastfeed their babies exclusively in order for the child to live a healthy life.
“We cannot do it alone so all hands must be on deck to give the right information to the public in terms of breastfeeding and nutrition.
“Our children’s health must not be neglected, if we neglect our children, their future will be neglected and their future will bleed so we must come together to ensure they live to enjoy brighter future,” she said
Speaking on the meeting objectives,Mrs. Ijeoma Onuoha Ogwe, Communications Officer, UNICEF, Enugu Field Office said the zero water campaign will last for four months
According to her “The campaign would take the following approaches which include Conversations at all levels on the importance of workplace support for breastfeeding, the benefits of breastfeeding-friendly workplaces, and the impact on working parents.
“Utilize identified media channels to encourage employers to adopt supportive practices such as providing designated breastfeeding areas, flexible work schedules, and extended maternity leave.
“Media uptakes featuring personal and success stories of breastfeeding working parents to emphasize the importance of workplace support,” she said
