A member of the breastfeeding week committee of the Rivers State university teaching hospital Dr.Kwosah Joseph Ngozi, has advised women against the use of formula foods for feeding their baby.
Doctor Ngozi who is a gynaecologist told our man in Port Harcourt that before now some mothers were doing something like breast feeding of their babies but said as it stands, the trend has changed and mothers are now into breast milk substitutes as against the foremost breast feeding.
Doctor Ngozi, hinted that as a result of the abnormal breastfeeding styles by some mothers, it was discovered that babies were dying of malnutrition, adding that the effect of hardship in the country compounded the situation and some families were unable to meet up with their baby foods.
He maintained that to say the least about formula feeding most companies producing baby food tried to mimic to create a good impression of their products ,but said the truth remains that breastfeeding is still the best and perfect form of feeding for babies designed by God.
The staff of the RSUTH, observed that what most mothers does not understand in formula foods is that sometimes the production of this baby food gets contaminated due to the process it has to undergo, adding that because of this RSUTH observed that children were dying hence the need for sensitisation of the public on the importance of breastfeeding.
“Because we have observed that babies were dying therefore there is a need to sensitise the public on the importance of breastfeeding; more so, the breast contained nutritious food for the baby” Dr.Ngozi said.
The gynaecologist who is also a member of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) further explained that it was on this premise about the importance of breastfeeding that this year’s theme was tagged” Step up breast Feeding, Educates and support” he stressed.
The medical doctor further explained that over the years, the breastfeeding committee of the hospital has been going round to educate the public on the important of breast feeling by mothers but said for this year, we step up with the need to talk to the health care providers- doctors, scientists, nurses, pharmacist, etc for them to understand how important the breast milk is for the baby.
Adding “therefore those in the medical sector if they are well informed can be able to adequately informed the public on the important of breastfeeding, so that a baby that is delivered can takes what is important for him or her” He maintaining
Asked on the issue of women going after artificial things? The medical doctor quickly responded thus: “there is nothing as important as being natural. Going artificial means the opposite and it has a lot of consequences” He stressed.
Dr.Ngosi who is equally the Vice Chairman of his union also explained that outside the consequences of going artificial, the system can as well affect the baby, and makes the process of making the baby difficult.
He however advised the public good hydration and the need for every family including pregnant mothers to take adequate amounts of water, and the need for pregnant women to always visit the hospital for adequately inform them about the processes of take care of their babies, adding that the point of some mother visiting traditional bed attendant is very risk.
