Early infant breast-feeding rate remains low – Health commissioner

Hamisu Kabir Matazu, Damaturu Yobe State Commissioner of Health, Dr Muhammad Bello Kawuwa said that early initiation rates and exclusive breast-feeding to infants and young children has remained too low in Yobe State.

The commissioner disclosed this yesterday at a press briefing on the 2017 World Breast-feeding week celebration in Damaturu, saying the poor practice was due to barriers brought by myths and beliefs.

"It's disheartening that even in the most remote villages poor mothers prefer giving infant formular to their newborn babies than breast milk," he said.