Promasidor Nigeria Limited, maker of Cowbell milk among other products has introduced two new infant milk formulas to the Nigerian market – Cowbell Tina 1 and Cowbell Tina 2.

The products were unveiled at a Breastfeeding symposium organized by the company and titled “The Nutrition Wisdom of Infant Feeding Choices”. The event was held at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The symposium was led by Mrs. Ngozi Nnam, the President of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN).

Prof. Nnam spoke on the benefits of breastfeeding both for the child and mother. However, the panelists who were brought together for the symposium stated that in circumstances where breastfeeding was not possible, there should be substitutes which must be readily available and affordable.

Prof. Nnam, said “Breastfeeding alone (exclusive breastfeeding) is a complete nutritional source for infants for the first six months of life because breast milk contains all the essential nutrients, bio-active compounds and anti-infective factors needed by the infant for the first six months of life.

She warned that lack of adequate breastfeeding could have dire consequences on the brain development of the child.

“Inadequate supply of nutrients like iron, iodine, magnesium, vitamin B12, folate, fat (LC – UFA) leads to insults in the brain to reduce IQ by 13.5 points, she said, and the effect is permanent.”

In his welcome address, the Managing Director of Promasidor, Mr. Olivier Thiry, said the company produces premium nutritional products that are good for all categories of people. He added that the products produced by Promasidor contain vitamins A, iron and other vital nutrients human bodies need for healthy living.

“We produce different products and they all have appropriate quantity and quality of nutrients required by different classes of people.”

Mr. Kachi Onobogu, Executive Director, Commercial, Promasidor Nigeria Limited; Mr. Olivier Thiry, Managing Director, Promasidor; Professor (Mrs) Ngozi Nnam, Keynote Speaker; and Festus Tettey, Head of Marketing, Promasidor

Professor Nnam, added that nutrition wisdom is important to ensure adequate supply of nutrients to support rapid growth and development of the infant; prevent malnutrition that could lead to stunting, wasting, underweight and micronutrient deficiency diseases as well as to protect the infant from developing chronic diseases in adulthood like diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity.

Nnam stated that the nutrients contained in breast milk were adequate in quantity and quality to promote optimal growth and development of infants.

Dr. Abieyuwa Emokpae, a Consultant Pediatrician and Medical Doctor at Massey Street children’s Hospital corroborated Prof. Nnam’s statements as he said that human milk contains hundreds to thousands of distinct bioactive molecules that protect against infection and inflammation and contribute to immune maturation, organ development and healthy microbial colonization.

Also lending her support, Dr. Ola-Aroyewun Bisoye, a matron said studies have shown that breasted infants perform better on intelligence and behaviour tests into adulthood than formula-fed babies. She advised that mothers should breastfeed their babies for a period of two years or more to bring the reproductive cycle full cycle because breastfeeding is the primary means of delaying pregnancy and spacing births.

“As long as a mother breastfeeds fully or nearly and as long as her periods have not fully returned, her protection against pregnancy during the first six months is ensured. This family planning method is called Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM).”

Prof. Nnam added that when breastfeeding to the infant was not possible, mothers should deploy infant formula like Tina-1, produced by Promisador when a baby is between zero and six months and Tina-2 for a child between six months and two years.