ABIA STATE GOVT CALLS FOR ASSISTANCE ON EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING CAMPAIGN

Nursing Mothers have been urged to ensure that they practice exclusive breastfeeding of their babies for at least six months before complimenting it.

The Abia State Coordinator Baby Friendly Initiative, Mrs Chinwe Eke made this known while speaking with Radio Nigeria on this year’s Breastfeeding Week in Umuahia, Abia State.

Mrs Eke states that exclusive breastfeeding prevents babies from contaminating infectious diseases like Diarrhea and measles.

She also enumerated other benefits to be derived from exclusive breastfeeding to include healthy living for the baby and her mother as well as prevention from ovarian cancer on nursing mothers.

On the level of compliance of the practice in the State, Mrs Eke expressed concern on the low performance recorded and appealed to Donor Agencies and Stakeholders in the Health Sector to assist the State Government in its campaign to achieve success on the program.

Some Nursing Mothers, Mrs Favour Ukegbu and Chidinma Mba said that they were practicing exclusive breastfeeding for their babies, noting that it had been very beneficial to them.

The theme of this Year’s Breastfeeding Week is “Breastfeeding the Foundation for Life”.

 LAWRENCE NWOKEDI