No fewer than 7000 lactating mothers living with HIV/AIDS have no defined means of livelihood in Nasarawa State, a health expert, Mr Philip Lakoko has disclosed.
Lactation is the process of producing and releasing milk from the breast‘s mammary glands.
It begins during pregnancy when hormonal changes signal the mammary glands to make milk in preparation for the birth of a baby.
Lakoko spoke during an event to mark the 2024 World Breastfeeding Week with the theme, “Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding for All“, in Lafia, the state capital.
He revealed that out of more than 15,000 childbearing mothers who tested positive for HIV/AIDS, only 7,000 were able to come forward with information on their living conditions and financial status.
He explained that most of the lactating mothers living with the virus are suffering the same fate but find it difficult to come public with the information.
He stated that most lactating mothers could hardly afford three square meals, adding that the situation was a major factor contributing to the low level of giving their children breast milk at least for the first six months of birth.
“Breast milk remains the best food for the child at least during the first six months of birth; most women living with HIV/AIDS in Nasarawa State can hardly afford even one square meal. So how can they have the strength to breastfeed their children? “ he queried.
He urged the state government and other stakeholders to intervene by ameliorating the situation.
“We want the government to come to their aid and set up a special intervention for these women”, he said.
Also speaking in the same vain, the state coordinator of the Association of Women Living with HIV/AIDS, Mrs Rahab Irmiya, also echoed the same misgivings, pointing out that the economic challenges in the country have further compounded the problem of many lactating mothers living with the virus.
She said there was an urgent need to pay maximum attention to lactating mothers living with HIV/AIDS as part of steps toward checking malnutrition and child mortality.
On her part, the executive director of Nasarawa State AIDS Control Agency, Dr Ruth Bello, explained that due to sustained awareness campaigns, the number of women living with HIV/AIDS in the state who have overcome stigma had continued to rise.