News Editor
By David Odama
Nasarawa State office of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has inaugurated a 15-member multi-sectoral committee to regulate the marketing of breast milk substitutes in the state.
The State Coordinator and Chairman of the committee, Anga Emmanuel disclosed this on Wednesday during the inauguration in Lafia.
He explained that the initiative aligns with the directive of the agency’s Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, and is aimed at promoting breastfeeding while ensuring strict compliance with regulations guiding breast milk substitutes.
According to Emmanuel, the committee will monitor and enforce adherence to the International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes and national guidelines.
He stressed that breast milk substitutes should not be advertised or sold indiscriminately except on the recommendation of a qualified medical doctor.
Principal Regulatory Officer and Desk Officer for breast milk substitutes, Mrs. Blessing Abel, highlighted that breast milk provides vital nutrients, hormones, and immune support for infants, while also lowering the risk of breast cancer and metabolic diseases in mothers.
She urged mothers to begin breastfeeding within an hour of birth and to practice exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months.
The committee members were drawn from NAFDAC, state ministries of Health, Information, Women Affairs, the media, the Primary Healthcare and Development Agency, the Department of State Services, and other stakeholders.
