BREAST FEEDING WEEK: WIFE OF EBONYI GOV PROMISES SUSTAINED SUPPORT FOR LACTATING MOTHERS
REPORTER: AMECHI ODO
Ebonyi State Government has expressed readiness to sustain its collaboration with health development partners for the provision of support services to breastfeeding mothers in the communities and public places.
The Wife of the State Governor, Mrs. Mary-Maudline Nwifuru, announced this at the Grand finale of this year’s breast feeding week in Abakaliki.
Mrs. Nwifuru said her foundation, Better Health for Rural Women and Internally Displaced Persons (BERWO) would commit to creating an environment where breastfeeding would be supported and celebrated.
She enjoined nursing mothers in the state service to take advantage of six months maternity leave to exclusively breast feed their babies.
Mrs. Nwifuru pointed out that the benefits extended beyond immediate health of the child to long-term wellbeing of the community and sustainable development of the society.
The State Governor’s Wife, however, observed that breastfeeding was not an easy task as many nursing mothers suffer from barriers.
She called for support to enable them overcome the challenges of poverty, stigma and inadequate support from the family.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Moses Ekuma, represented by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Primary Health, Dr. Sabinus Nwibo, pointed out that breast milk contains all the vital nutrients for the growth of the baby.
He enjoined nursing mothers to take advantage of the support of the government and her partners to breast feed their babies intermittently.
Speaking on the theme of the event, “Closing the Gap, Breastfeeding Support for all,” a representative of Helen Keller International, Mr. Uchenna Onwe, commended Nigeria for breaking the record as 31,000 nursing mothers breastfeed their children at the same time in the country.
Some of the nursing mothers told Radio Nigeria that in spite of economic challenges, they ensured that their babies were exclusively breastfed.
Diapers, towels and other breastfeeding items were distributed to the nursing mothers.
EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU
