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Exclusive breast feeding reduces child mortality by 13% – UNICEF

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Nasiru Yusuf

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) said exclusive breastfeeding from birth to 6 months and beyond contributes 30 percent of child survival indices and reduces child mortality by 13 percent.

KANO FOCUS reports that the Officer-in-Charge (OIC), UNICEF Field Office Kano, Michael Banda revealed this while presenting a paper, “2021 World Breastfeeding week, a shared responsibility to support, breastfeeding and promote zero water campaign in Kano” on Wednesday at Tahir Palace.

Michael Banda

He said exclusive breastfeeding from 0-6 and 6-24 months protects children from stunting and reduces possible defects in educational IQ of a child and brightens his livelihood.

Mr Banda said children that are exclusively breastfed for two years have a 19 percent chance of survival, adding that if a child is put to breastfeeding within one hour of his birth it reduces malnutrition and child mortality cases and they are protected from infections.

According to him breastfeeding plays an important role in the life of the child as experts assert that the first breast milk a child receives when it is born is indeed its first immunization as the colostrum in that first flow from the child’s mother contains immunity-conferring benefits on the child but despite its importance, “not all mothers and caregivers practice breastfeeding, especially exclusive breastfeeding while those that do it don’t always do it properly” he added.

Banda also said, it is the baby’s best source of nutrition, bolstering brain development with lifelong benefits for the baby stressing that early initiation of breastfeeding (in the first hour of birth), exclusive breastfeeding (from 0-6 months) and continued breastfeeding (6-23 months) offer a powerful line of defense against all forms of childhood malnutrition including wasting.

He said, despite the compelling evidence, breastfeeding rates are far too low in many countries. Only 44 per cent of infants are exclusively breastfeed in the first six months, which falls far short of the global targets of 50 per cent by 2025, and less than half of newborn babies are breastfed in the first hour of life, missing out completely on the benefits of breastfeeding to survive and thrive.

Participants

However, the in-charge field officer, worried that in Kano, exclusive breastfeeding is only 18 percent this is coupled with poor environmental challenges, resulting in a high rate of child mortality and malnutrition.

He added that It is safe to continue breastfeeding even if a mother is suspected or confirmed positive to have COVID-19. Women currently breastfeeding or providing expressed milk can receive the COVDI-19 vaccines.

Banda said UNICEF finding has shown that mothers infected with Coronavirus can breastfeed their babies without infecting them.

“Breastfeed during COVID-19, active virus has not been detected in any breastmilk of a Mother, which simply means Child can be BreastFeed even if She is actively infected,”he said.

He urged communities who are ravaged by war and other serious Insecurities to create volunteer breastfeeding groups for abandoned children so as to reduce incidents of child mortality and child malnutrition.

In his presentation, a nutritionist with UNICEF Kano field office Oluniyi Oyedokun, said, Nigeria has the 2nd highest burden of stunting in the world which stands at 32%, underweight 21% and and wasting 9% with Kano having the highest burden of Malnutrition in the country.

From statistics Kano has 56.9% cases of stunting, underweight 40.0% and wasting, 7.9% making it the highest in Nigeria.

He listed benefits of exclusive breastfeeding to include; stronger immune systems, lower rates of infant mortality, less illness and less diarrhoea Amongst other illnesses that leads to hospitalization.

Oyedokun further explained that Breast milk provides abundant and easily absorbed nutritional components, antioxidants, enzymes, immune properties and live antibodies from mother as a result, should be encouraged among all mother’s for the wellbeing of their infants and themselves.

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Kano State Head of Service Denies Claims of Political Rift Behind Senior Civil Service Postings

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The Office of the Head of Civil Service in Kano State has strongly rejected a recent news report that linked the appointment of new Permanent Secretaries and Directors to an alleged rift within the ruling party.

In a statement issued on November 6, 2024, Abdullahi Musa, the Head of Civil Service, categorically dismissed the claims as “false, mischievous, and a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.”

Musa clarified that the recent postings were part of routine administrative procedures aimed at enhancing the efficiency of the state’s civil service. He explained that the moves were necessary to fill vacancies created by the imminent retirements of senior civil servants, particularly the Permanent Secretaries and Directors affected by the annulled tenure elongation plan, set to take effect in December.

“These postings were not influenced by political considerations or interpersonal conflicts,” Musa emphasized. “They are standard administrative actions designed to improve the functionality of our Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).”

The Head of Service also condemned the media report for suggesting that the reshuffling of senior officials was a reaction to a political divide, asserting that such claims were unfounded and aimed at creating unnecessary discord within the state’s leadership.

Musa reaffirmed that the civil service in Kano State remains apolitical and committed to functioning independently of political dynamics. He urged the public and media outlets to rely on verified information and avoid spreading rumors that could undermine the state’s stability.

“The Office of the Head of Civil Service remains fully committed to ensuring the smooth operation of the civil service and fostering a harmonious relationship among all branches of government,” he concluded.

Musa also called on media outlets and citizens to focus on factual reporting and refrain from amplifying false narratives that could erode public trust in the administration’s decisions.

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Cour order mental evaluation for Kano woman after strange theft case testimony

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By Mukhtar Yahya Usman

Kano Woman Facing Theft Charges Claims She’s “Above Theft,” Demands 200,000 Naira, and Alleges Stolen Belongings Taken from Her Stomach.

On Tuesday a theft case took an unusual turn at the Sharia Court in Kano’s Kurna area after the defendant, Hajara Ibrahim, made a series of perplexing statements, leading the court to order a mental health evaluation.

Hajara, who was brought before the court on theft charges, declared that she was “above committing theft” and insisted that she would only respond to the accusations if her case were taken before the Emir of Kano.

As the proceedings continued, her behavior grew stranger.

When asked if she had any mental health issues, she ignored the question.

In another exchange, when the judge asked her to identify the ceiling fans in the courtroom, she retorted that no one had the authority to make her look at a fan.

Hajara further shocked the court by demanding 200,000 Naira for “medical expenses” and claimed that some of her belongings had been mysteriously taken from her stomach.

The case took a new twist when a man identified himself as Hajara’s brother and told the court that she had a history of mental health issues.

Based on this information and her erratic behavior, presiding judge Shamsudden Ado Abdullahi instructed the court clerk to send a letter to Dawanau Psychiatric Hospital, requesting a mental health assessment for Hajara.

The judge then adjourned the case to December 9, 2024, awaiting the results of her evaluation.

 

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Headlines

Cour order mental evaluation for Kano woman after strange theft case testimony

Published

on

By Mukhtar Yahya Usman

Kano Woman Facing Theft Charges Claims She’s “Above Theft,” Demands 200,000 Naira, and Alleges Stolen Belongings Taken from Her Stomach.

On Tuesday a theft case took an unusual turn at the Sharia Court in Kano’s Kurna area after the defendant, Hajara Ibrahim, made a series of perplexing statements, leading the court to order a mental health evaluation.

Hajara, who was brought before the court on theft charges, declared that she was “above committing theft” and insisted that she would only respond to the accusations if her case were taken before the Emir of Kano.

As the proceedings continued, her behavior grew stranger.

When asked if she had any mental health issues, she ignored the question.

In another exchange, when the judge asked her to identify the ceiling fans in the courtroom, she retorted that no one had the authority to make her look at a fan.

Hajara further shocked the court by demanding 200,000 Naira for “medical expenses” and claimed that some of her belongings had been mysteriously taken from her stomach.

The case took a new twist when a man identified himself as Hajara’s brother and told the court that she had a history of mental health issues.

Based on this information and her erratic behavior, presiding judge Shamsudden Ado Abdullahi instructed the court clerk to send a letter to Dawanau Psychiatric Hospital, requesting a mental health assessment for Hajara.

The judge then adjourned the case to December 9, 2024, awaiting the results of her evaluation.

 

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