Stakeholders have expressed concerns over the low rate of exclusive breastfeeding among lactating mothers in Ogun State, saying it is a fundamental right of the child.
They explained that to help their infant develop a healthy immune system, all mothers must commit to six months of exclusive breastfeeding before supplemental feeding.
The stakeholders spoke at the flag-off ceremony of the 2024 World Breastfeeding Week, with the theme; “Closing the gap: Breastfeeding, Support for All” in Abeokuta.
The wife of the governor, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun, in her address, stated that the initiative aimed at raising awareness about exclusive breastfeeding and addressing harmful nutrition practices.
Abiodun, who was represented by Dr Yinka Elemide, wife of the state assembly’s Speaker, noted that the state’s exclusive breastfeeding percentage was only 33.2 per cent, a significant distance from the World Health Assembly’s 2030 target of 70 per cent.
She argued that the low national and state support for exclusive breastfeeding could be linked to the rising social and economic instabilities which had left many nursing mothers with little time to devote to breastfeeding their children.
In her remarks, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, noted that the week was celebrated to remind mothers, stakeholders, and the government of the need to join in advocating exclusive breastfeeding.
Coker, represented by the Executive Secretary of the state Primary Healthcare Board, Dr Elijah Ogunsola, stated that the health of the mother and child was of utmost importance to the government.
“My advice is for all stakeholders to use this week to reflect and see that we have an advantage created by God and it is not affected by the dollar or the economy so we should not starve our children,” she said.
Coordinator of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Mrs Victoria Adebiyi, commended Ogun for joining the global celebration, maintaining that every child deserved to be well nourished.
Adebiyi asserted that mothers should be educated and prepared mentally and emotionally from the beginning of their pregnancy.
NAN
