Dr Oscar Odiboh, the Founder of African International Babycare Initiative (AFRIBABY), on Tuesday said proper breastfeeding would reduce the risk of breast cancer in women.
Odiboh said this at a programme organised by the initiative to mark the 2015 World Breastfeeding Week and 13th Babies and Moms Expo.
He also called on the government and well-meaning individuals to support the initiative in the establishment of a breast milk bank.
"The bank will provide opportunities for those in the motherless babies’ homes who do not have the privilege of taking breast milk to have access to it.
"Some babies have their mothers while some don't have, who is going to breastfeed the babies without mothers?
`` How about those babies whose mothers are in critical condition, who is going to breastfeed them?"
"The idea of the breast milk bank is to cater for babies without mothers as women can come and donate breast milk like they donate blood.
"AFRIBABY conceived the idea of breast milk bank as an antidote to the inequalities of breastfeeding in our society,” Odiboh said.
Also speaking, Mrs Maria Obi-Perez, an Early Childhood Specialist from Spain, said ``breast milk gives a baby the basic nutrient it needs to grow and mature.
"Breastfeeding also helps the mother not to have breast cancer, anaemia among others.
"Many mothers refuse to breastfeed their babies just because they don't want to lose their body shape.’’
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the World Breastfeeding Week is commemorated annually from Aug. 1 to Aug.7 to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world.
The theme of the week is: ``Breastfeeding and Work: Let’s Make It Work!''
The week also commemorates the Innocenti Declaration signed in August 1990 by government policymakers, WHO, UNICEF and other organisations to protect, promote and support breastfeeding. (NAN)
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