By Amina Abdullahi Girbo
Media practitioners in the Northeast geo-political zone of the country have been tasked to always report the violation of international code of marketing of breastmill substitutes (BMS).
Bauchi state coordinator of the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mrs. Josephone Dayilim made the plea at the just concluded one day orientation for media practitioners and social media Influencers held in Bauchi.
She explained that the orientation organized by the Alive and Thrive FHI360 geared to promote Maternal Infant and Young child Nutrition (MIYCN) activities, stressed the need for journalists to monitor and report violators of national regulations by manufacturers of BMS products Code.
According to the state coordinator, the implementation of the Code was designed to protect, promote and support breastfeeding and prevent health caregivers from aggressive marketing of breast milk substitute by infant food manufacturers.
Mrs. Josephine Dayilim therefore warned that NAFDAC would prosecute and ensure that violator is jailed for a period of two years, as such individuals or companies would forfeit the offending items on conviction.
She noted with dismay that lack of awareness of stakeholders, including the media had also contributed to the current gravity of violations, and appealed to journalists to report such cases of violation, while creating awareness on the code of marketing of breast milk substitute,
Alive and Thrive FHI360 Bauchi State Focal Person, Mr Asimobi Chidi, had earlier in a welcome addresss, advised the public to desist from promotion of breast milk substitutes as food for infants less than six months, as well as go for local complimentary meals after six months.
Mr. Asimobi Chidi explained that BMS poses great risk of not having breast milk’s protective qualities through the high risk of contamination that could lead to life-threatening infections in young infants.
He said that the objective of the food and nutrition was to focus attention on the need to integrate actions to improve maternal, infant, and young child nutrition across the different stages
“Window of opportunity” from preconception through pregnancy, the period of exclusive breastfeeding (0 to 6 months) and the target age for complementary feeding is 6 to 24 months.”
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (BASPHCDA), Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed said that ‘Ready to Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) is not a sustainable approach in curbing the menace of malnutrition among infants and babies’.
Represented by the Director, Disease Control and Immunization of the agency, Mr Dahiru Mahmood, Rilwanu said that the agency would enlighten communities on the dangers of poor nutrition on human development.
Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed therefore urged the journalists to go disseminate key messages using correct information to create public awareness.
