NAFDAC seeks increased compliance with marketing code for breast milk substitute
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has called on manufacturers of Breastmilk Substitutes (BMS) to comply with the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, and national regulations by manufacturers of BMS products to protect infant nutrition.
The World Health Assembly (WHA), the decision-making body of the World Health Organisation (WHO) adopted the International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes in 1981 as a global health public strategy to protect breastfeeding from aggressive promotional campaigns by milk formula manufacturers.
According to Mojishola Adeyeye, director general of NAFDAC, for better compliance, it is essential to note that “Nigeria voted for Code adoption and was, therefore, expected to implement all its provisions in their entirety as a minimum requirement for its implementation through appropriate national measures including legislation. National legislation to implement the Code may, therefore, be stronger but, certainly, not weaker than its provisions.
Speaking at a one day sensitisation workshop on “Compliance with the Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes” organised by NAFDAC in collaboration with Alive &Thrive/fhi360 funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Adeyeye said the knowledge and lack of awareness of stakeholders including the media, has also contributed to the gravity of violations currently being practiced in Nigeria.
“This has necessitated the need for the regulatory agency in collaboration with relevant partners to aggressively address this unpleasant situation through interventions including effective sensitization of all stakeholders,” she said.
Adeyeye noted that the importance of appropriate infant and young child feeding and resultant effect on national economic development cannot be overemphasized.
“However, there are various challenges hampering its actualization.
Based on analysis of the cost of not breastfeeding by Alive and Thrive with the support of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), improving breastfeeding can help Nigeria reach its full human and economic potentials by preventing 10 million cases of childhood diarrhoea and pneumonia, saving 103, 742 children’s live each year and reducing the cost to the health care system by $22 million a year, it says.
Also speaking at the workshop Patricia Monwuba, a retired deputy director of NAFDAC, said despite the numerous benefits, millions of babies are being denied of their mother’s milk.
“Breastfeeding provides social and economic benefits to the family and the nation, contributes to women’s health by reducing the risk of breast and ovarian cancers, and it also helps to increase the spacing between pregnancies,”
“Breast milk substitute pose the risk of not having breast milk’s protective qualities through the high risk of contamination that can lead to life-threatening infections in young infants,” added Thompson Kobata, representing Chris Isokpunwu, the Head of Nutrition, Federal ministry of Health.
Abdulsalam Ozigis, deputy director, Food System and Applied Nutrition, NAFDAC, however urged that government and policy makers should create an enabling environment for Code monitors to carry out their work without fear or favour and also put in place punitive measures to ensure enforcement compliance and make sure that they are enforced.
He advised that health workers have an essential role to play in protecting, promoting and supporting optimal infant feeding practices. Noting that they should not allow themselves to be used as agents for industry “ensure that financial support and other incentives for programmes and health professionals working in Infant and Young Child health do not create conflicts of interest.”