Advances in Neonatal and Pediatric Nutrition

Nutrition is an important aspect of child health. Under-nutrition puts children at greater risk of dying from common infectious diseases, increases the frequency and severity of such diseases and contributes to delayed recovery from illnesses. In addition, the interaction between under-nutrition and infection can create a potentially lethal cycle of worsening illness and deteriorating nutritional status. In terms of overall progress towards the sustainable development goals, the Sub-Saharan Africa is far behind all other regions in achieving the goal of over-coming hunger. Under-nutrition causes nearly three million children death annually and that poor nutrition in the first 1000 days of any child can lead to irreversible stunted growth and impaired cognitive ability. The most affected age is infancy due to the critical period of brain growth and development. Breastfeeding is an important component of child survival strategy. However as readily available breast milk is, the breast feeding rate in sub Saharan Africa and Nigeria is still low. This is largely due to ignorance of true benefits of breastfeeding to baby, mother and the community, maternal quest for white collar jobs and poor government policies. This key note address will tend to highlight breast feeding as the true foundation of infant nutrition and as well highlight the benefits, challenges and proper solutions facing optimal breast feeding.