From Sola Ojo, Kaduna
As a part of its deliberate plans to ensure effective regulation, monitoring, and enforcement of the Breast-milk Substitute (BMS) in Nigeria, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has inaugurated a multi-sectoral technical committee for the enforcement of international code for marketing of BMS in Zaria, Kaduna State.
Preliminary findings revealed that most of the respondents including health workers, pharmacists and sales attendants in supermarkets where BMS is sold do not know about the BMS Code and its importance to infants and Nigeria as a whole.
NAFDAC Director General Prof Moji Adeyeye, speaking through the State Coordinator, Mr Nasiru Mato, said setting up the committee became necessary to fast-track the implementation process with a five-year strategic plan already in place since 2021.
She said, “Today, we are inaugurating the committee in Kaduna state, the first in the country, and building the capacity of members to effectively carry out the great task ahead.
“The International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, adopted by the World Health Assembly in May 1981, is a tool to protect, support and promote optimal breastfeeding.
“The Code aims at ensuring safe feeding and better nutrition for babies and protecting breastfeeding mothers from aggressive marketing of baby foods.
“This is very important in ensuring that mothers and healthcare systems are protected from commercial pressures from BMS manufacturers and distributors,” she remarked.
Adeyeye however commended Save the Children International (SCI) and Alive & Thrive, a global nutrition initiative for supporting the event to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Code.
BMS Desk Officer Mrs Rahila Maishanu hinted that the state Coordinator of NAFDAC would chair the committee while the BMS Desk Officer would serve as the secretary.
The members of this committee comprised technical officers from relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), Development Partners, Civil Society Organisations, academia, professional bodies and media.
