Why Breast Milk Could Be Beneficial for Adults: Insights from Dr. Efunbo Dosekun
Breast milk is often celebrated for its unmatched nutritional value and immune-boosting properties for infants. However, recent discussions have brought to light its potential benefits for adults, sparking curiosity and debate within the medical community. Dr. Efunbo Dosekun, a seasoned pediatrician with over four decades of experience, has offered some compelling insights into why breast milk could be more than just a baby’s best start in life.
In a recent interview, Dr. Dosekun, the founder of Outreach Medical Services, shared her perspective on the importance of breastfeeding, not only for infants but also for adults. According to her, breast milk contains vital nutrients and immune-boosting elements that could have positive health effects well beyond infancy.
The Nutritional and Emotional Bonding Benefits of Breast Milk
Dr. Dosekun emphasized the irreplaceable value of breastfeeding for infants. “It is so important that women should breastfeed their babies very well,” she stated, highlighting the dual benefits of physical nutrition and emotional bonding that breastfeeding facilitates. According to her, breastfed babies often develop a stronger attachment to their mothers, a factor she linked to better mental health outcomes and improved coping mechanisms later in life. This emotional connection, known as bonding, is critical for a child’s development, contributing to less addiction, fewer tantrums, and better school performance.
From a nutritional standpoint, breast milk is unmatched. “If you read about the component of breast milk, it did not only contain carbohydrate, protein, fats, and vitamins, there is also an additional factor there that is going to allow the immune system of the baby to grow,” Dr. Dosekun explained. She pointed out that breast milk contains specific immune-stimulating factors and friendly bacteria that help to develop a baby’s immune system, particularly in the first few days of life.
Breast Milk for Adults: A Potential Health Boost
While breastfeeding is widely recognized for its benefits to infants, the idea that breast milk could be advantageous for adults is gaining attention. “Even now, adults take it because it has such a useful element in it. It makes a healthy adult,” Dr. Dosekun noted, sparking interest in the broader applications of breast milk.
The concept of adults consuming breast milk may seem unconventional, but the reasoning behind it is based on the same immune-boosting properties that benefit infants. Breast milk is rich in antibodies, growth factors, and bioactive compounds that could potentially support the immune system and overall health in adults. While research on this topic is still emerging, the anecdotal evidence and expert opinions, like those of Dr. Dosekun, suggest that breast milk may have untapped benefits for adult health.
Challenges and the Way Forward
Despite the potential benefits, the conversation around breast milk for adults is not without its challenges. Social stigmas, ethical considerations, and the practicalities of breast milk production all pose significant hurdles. Moreover, Dr. Dosekun’s broader commentary on the state of healthcare in Nigeria highlights another critical issue: the availability of quality healthcare services and the remuneration of health workers.
Dr. Dosekun has been a vocal advocate for better remuneration and working conditions for health workers in Nigeria, stressing the need for the government to collaborate with private hospitals to improve healthcare delivery. “Medical flight is a natural phenomenon,” she said, acknowledging the increasing migration of health workers due to poor pay and tough working conditions. She believes that improving the remuneration and working conditions in both private and public healthcare sectors could help retain skilled professionals and reduce the exodus of healthcare workers, known locally as the “Japa syndrome.”
A Call to Action for Women
In her decades-long career, Dr. Dosekun has witnessed firsthand the challenges facing women and children in Nigeria. She advocates for the formation of women’s groups, particularly in Lagos, to establish community insurance schemes that can provide better access to healthcare services. “Let us have a community insurance, no matter the small amount,” she urged, calling for a collective effort to ensure that women and children can access the care they need without prohibitive costs.
Dr. Dosekun’s insights underscore the complex interplay between culture, health, and societal expectations. Her advocacy for breastfeeding, coupled with her innovative ideas for improving healthcare accessibility, offers a holistic approach to tackling some of the pressing health issues in Nigeria today. Whether or not the idea of adults consuming breast milk becomes widely accepted, her emphasis on the importance of adequate healthcare for all, especially the most vulnerable, remains a crucial point in the ongoing conversation about public health.
