Hi Donna and all members of the LILCA
Let me take this opportunity to wish you all compliments of the season and extend my greetings from Abuja Nigeria . I hope the Christmas was a pleasant experience for all of us.
I have attached a picture of Abuja Clinics so you know how our practice looks like and our New Year baby born by cesarean section in the early hours of new year day. Unfortunately I cannot give you her name because in Nigeria the tradition is to name newborns on the eight day. In the picture I am watching the mothers breastfeeding technique in order to assist her breastfeed better. It is her second child so she was apparently well informed about breastfeeding technique.
I have used the Christmas and new year period to plan my strategies for strengthening breastfeeding communication and support in my immediate practice and wider environment with the support of LILCA.
As I have stated earlier the area of lactation counseling in Nigeria is not presently regarded as a professional area requiring specific qualification so that those who provide that crucial support to lactating women are few and often rely on latent knowledge and the minimal experience picked up during medical and nursing education (it is mostly regarded as an implied nursing responsibility). I hope to gradually introduce as many individuals and groups involved in caring for puerperal and antenatal women to the activities and benefits of the international lactation association (ILA).
At present at the Abuja Clinics our interaction with expectant mothers during the antenatal classes provides some information on lactation and breastfeeding. While the antenatal classes are often moderated by midwives the medical doctors partake occasionally. We always try to make it an open forum for expression of ideas and airing of questions with equal contributions by moderator and participants to discussion of issues and providing valuable advice especially from the more experienced to the less experienced mothers.
Our sessions are however in need of more learning and instructional aids such as posters audiovisuals and maybe even dummies for demonstration of breastfeeding techniques.
I also hope to carry out a small survey in order to assess the level of need for the resources and support of lactation consultants from the perspective of the clinical workers and the patients themselves to determine if those presently providing the services are satisfying the needs of lactating mothers.
I look forward to the ILCA annual conference later this year as I think it will avail me the opportunity of understanding better the ideals of the association and meet other members in person. I will begin my preparations early
Again I wish all the best of the new year.
Omojuwa Ifeju
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