Wife of Abia State governor, Priscilla Otti, has said breastfeeding support is everyone’s responsibility, commending mothers who have chosen the option for their babies.
Mrs Otti stated this at a baby show/ breastfeeding baby competition in commemoration of this year’s World Breastfeeding Week in Umuahia, the state capital.
She observed that the occasion’s theme, “Prioritise Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems” which focuses on environment and climate change, was timely.
She described breastfeeding as nature’s way of giving optimal nutrition and care to children, a beautiful role of women in every society, and a vital aspect of motherhood that provides numerous benefits for both mothers and babies.
“Breastfeeding promotes healthy growth and development of the children, boosts their immune system, and fosters a deep bond between mother and child.
“As we celebrate this year’s World Breastfeeding Week, I want to tell all mothers who have embraced exclusive breastfeeding that their efforts are being recognised by our dear governor, Dr Alex Otti.
”I encourage you to do more and also encourage every mother around you to key into this special and unique role of mothers – give your baby only mother’s breastmilk in the first six months of life.
”The media should beef up awareness and sensitisation programmes and activities aimed at encouraging our people to embrace this nature’s way of giving life to our young ones, as well as other healthcare services.”
The commissioner for Health, Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, noted that breastfeeding is a shared societal responsibility, urging everyone to support exclusive breastfeeding because of its benefits.
The professor of Medicine said, “Exclusive breastfeeding should be encouraged because proper nutrition begins at birth, as breast milk contains all the nutrients a baby needs.
”Breastfeeding represents the cradle of nutrition, and that is why it is the foundation of every meaningful nutritional programme. Breastmilk is more than food for babies.”
Executive secretary of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Kalu Ulu-Kalu, expressed worry that many nursing mothers were yet to embrace exclusive breastfeeding despite its numerous benefits.
”It’s disheartening that despite the well-known benefits of breast milk and breastfeeding, many mothers still do not embrace this initiative – the best child survival strategy.
”Breastfeeding promotes healthy growth and development of children, boosts the immune system and fosters a deep bond between mother and child,” Ulu-Kalu explained.
