Show commitment to exclusive breast feeding, Nigerian men told

Experts who gathered at the 2011 World Breast feeding Week lecture organised by the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Lagos State Chapter submitted that unless the man of the house, that is the father, plays a supportive role, the woman (mother) may not have the psychological and nutritional balance to breastfeed exclusively for at least six months.
In a lecture entitled; “The Role of Fathers in Breastfeeding”, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Broadcasting Corporation, Mr. Lekan Ogunbanwo who observed that although, men are assigned little or no role in the nursing process, encouraged fathers to get involved in planning active roles for themselves with a view to ensuring that their babies do not miss the many benefits of breastmilk in the first six months of life as well as 14 months of continuous feeding.
“The father should realise the economic, health and psychological benefits breastfeeding gives the family and how. on the long run, the total wellbeing of the family is affected rather than compete with the baby for the breast.
In the message delivered by the Director News, Ayo Agbesanwa, it was stressed that the husband should not only help to provide meals and other needs of his wife, but also take attend to the baby after a deserving breast feeding session.
Corroborating his views, Mrs. Adetoro Oladapo who represented the Lagos State Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Mr. Aderemi Ibirogba, said experience has shown that a woman can only breastfeed when she has complete psychological balance.