Exclusive breastfeeding reduces risk of cardio-vascular disease in children through life, lowers risk of childhood cancer, including leukemia, lower and reduces risk of childhood obesity.
The United Nations Children, UNICEF, therefore advised mothers against giving water to their breastfeeding babies in the first six months of life, as breastmilk contains everything a baby needs to quench thirst and satisfy hunger.
Nutrition Specialist of the global children body, Philomena Irene, made the call at a two-day World Breastfeeding Week Media Dialogue organised by the Bauchi Field Office.
She also observed that breast milk is the best possible food and drink that can be offered a baby to grow strong and healthy, stressing that caution should be taken to ensure that water and other liquids do not replace breastmilk.
