Journal of Nutritional Disorders & Therapy

Breastfeeding: The true foundation of infant nutrition

Joint Event on Advances in Neonatal and Pediatric Nutrition & 14^th International Congress on Advances in Natural Medicines, Nutraceuticals & Neurocognition

July 19-21, 2018 | London, UK

Augustine Isikhuemen Omoigberale

University of Benin, Nigeria

Keynote: J Nutr Disorders

Abstract:

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.

Biography :

Augustine Isikhuemen Omoigberale is a Professor of Paediatrics and Child Health (Neonatology), Department of Child Health, School of Medicine, College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin and Honorary Consultant at University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin city, Nigeria. He is a graduate of the University of Benin, College of Medicine and a Fellow of the West African College of Physicians (Paediatrics) since late eighties. He is currently the President of Paediatric Association of Nigeria (PAN). He has attended many training courses both in Nigeria and outside Nigeria, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas USA, to mention just a few. He teaches Neonatology, Breastfeeding and Infant Feeding, Gastroenterology, General Paediatrics Infection, Paediatrics HIV and AIDS, Management of Paediatrics HIV exposed Infected and Affected Infants and Children, Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV, HIV/Infant Feeding options. His research areas focus mainly on General Paediatrics, Breastfeeding and Gastroenterology, Specifically Paediatrics HIV/AIDS, Neonatology and related issues. He has more than 65 publications in both local and international Journal articles, conference papers, seminars presentations, text books and has supervised over 20 dissertations leading to the award of the Fellowship in Paediatrics of both West African College of Physicians and National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria.

E-mail: isikhuemen2@gmail.com