The Primary Health Care Development Agency in Delta State has stressed the importance of feeding a child with breast milk from the first 30 minutes after delivery.
Executive Secretary of the agency, Dr. Winful Orieke-Jude, stated this in Asaba, while briefing newsmen on plans for the 2022 world breastfeeding celebration in the state.
The theme of this year’s celebration is “Stepup for Breastfeeding: Educate and Support” aimed at educating nursing mothers on the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding.
Inaugurateing a sensitization campaign, Dr. Winful Orieke-Jude, said the focus of this year’s breastfeeding campaign was Okpe local government area, which was ranked lowest in the practice of breastfeeding according to data from the 25 council areas.
He noted that the aim was to educate women on the benefits of breastfeeding to both the mother and the baby, and advising nursing mothers to eat well and consume lots of water while tasking fathers to encourage exclusive breastfeeding of their babies.
“There are some other LGA’s, but this year we are focusing on Okpe local government. And with the cooperation we are getting from the local authorities we can do a good work in Okpe local government to increasing the breastfeeding rate.”
“Early initiation of breastfeeding reduces maternal postpartum bleeding, reduces the risks of breast cancer, it also contributes healthy child spacing.”
Also, the state nutrition officer Mr. Benson Eche highlighted some of the programmes lineed up for the 2022 world Breastfeeding Week in the state to include the sensitization of members of the public through various partners, and then at the end of the day a grand finale at Okpe local government area.
