Use of infant formula increases child mortality – NAFDAC
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says the widespread use of infant formula products will increase child morbidity and mortality in the country.
Coordinator NAFDAC in Kaduna state, Nantim Dadi, raised the alarm in Kaduna on Thursday at a two-day training for officials of the agency on marketing of infant and children food, and other designated products organised by NAFDAC in collaboration with Save the Children International (SCI).
Dadi described the use of infant formula as inappropriate, which he said has continued to rise in spite of efforts to discourage the practice among mothers.
He said that NAFDAC would partner with organisations willing to support the efforts to eliminate the practice that undermines optimal and appropriate feeding of children.
The NAFDAC official noted the need for massive sensitisation campaign to educate mothers on the dangers inherent in the use of infant formula known as breast milk substitute.
According to him, breast milk remains the appropriate feeding practice for infants and young children because of its rich nutrients and minerals compared to any infant formula.
“But, there is still high level of information gap on the existence of the international code and national regulation on breast milk substitute among health workers.
“This ignorance has paved the way for infant formula companies within and outside the country to continue to violate the regulations while promoting their products.
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“The code and regulation among other things mandated the infant formula companies to acknowledge breast milk supremacy in terms of nutrients and minerals needed by a child,” Dadi said.
He said the 2019 marketing of infant and young children food and other designated products regulation has been revised in the efforts to address the challenge.
The official said that the training would equip NAFDAC officers with the needed skills on how to use the new monitoring tools to enforce compliance of the revised regulation.
