Headlines
Exclusive breast feeding reduces child mortality by 13% – UNICEF
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.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has expressed deep sorrow over the death of former Kano State Commissioner of Finance and renowned academic, Professor Kabiru Isa Dandago.
KANO FOCUS reports that the governor’s reaction was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by his spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Director General, Media and Publicity, Government House, Kano.
Governor Yusuf described the late Prof. Dandago as a dedicated public servant and accomplished scholar whose contributions to education and governance left lasting footprints in Kano State.
He noted that the former finance commissioner served the state with integrity and commitment and was widely respected for his professionalism, humility and passion for knowledge.
According to the governor, Kano State has lost a valuable son whose experience and wisdom greatly enriched both public service and the academic community.
Governor Yusuf extended his heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased, the academic community and the people of Kano State over what he described as an irreparable loss.
He prayed that Almighty Allah forgives the shortcomings of the late Prof. Dandago, grants him Aljannatul Firdaus and gives his family and loved ones the fortitude to bear the loss.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The National President of the Government Arabic Teachers College Gwale Old Students Association (GATCOSA), Professor Kabiru Isa Dandago, is dead.
KANO FOCUS reports that Prof. Dandago, a renowned Professor of Accountancy at Bayero University Kano, died on Wednesday evening. His passing has thrown the academic community and associates into mourning.
In a message shared on GATCOSA’s WhatsApp platform, a Director at the Kano State Ministry of Higher Education, Alhaji Nura Dandago, announced that the funeral prayer for the late professor would be held on Thursday at 9:00 a.m. at his residence in Rijiyar Zaki Quarters, Kano.
Until his death, Prof. Dandago served as the National President of GATCOSA and was widely respected for his contributions to education and public service. He previously served as Commissioner for Finance in Kano State during the administration of former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
Just last Saturday, the late academic presented a paper on economic challenges in Northern Nigeria at a Ramadan Lecture organised by the Islamic Forum of Nigeria, where he spoke passionately about strategies for economic reform and regional development.
Colleagues and admirers described Prof. Dandago as a dedicated scholar and public servant who was deeply committed to building a prosperous and self-reliant nation. His death marks the end of a distinguished career in academia and public service.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The basketball team of Bayero University Kano (BUK) has emerged champions of the Northwest 3×3 Basketball Championship hosted by Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.
KANO FOCUS reports that the victorious team presented the championship trophy to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Haruna Musa, following their impressive performance at the tournament, which featured six universities from across Northern Nigeria.
BUK went unbeaten throughout the competition, winning all six matches and sealing the title with a thrilling 20–18 victory over the host institution, ABU Zaria, in the final.
In the group stage, BUK recorded a 10–0 win against Northwest University, Kano, and defeated the Air Force Institute of Technology 33–20. The team also edged the Federal University of Education, Kano, 11–9, before securing another dominant 10–0 victory over the Federal University of Transportation, Daura. They capped their remarkable run with the narrow 20–18 triumph in the final.
The victory marks BUK’s second championship title in the history of the competition, reinforcing the university’s growing reputation in collegiate sports.
Receiving the team, the Vice-Chancellor congratulated the athletes for bringing pride to the institution and urged them to sustain and surpass their current achievements. He reaffirmed the management’s commitment to strengthening sports development in the university and pledged continued institutional and individual support for the players’ sporting careers.
The presentation ceremony concluded with the formal handover of the trophy and cash rewards to the athletes in recognition of their discipline, teamwork and excellence.
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