As part of efforts at boosting the nutrition of children, the Ogun state government has investeresourcececees in ensuring that exclusive breastfeeding is promoted through training and retraining of health care practitioners on nutritional counseling which is essential to it.
Wife of the Ogun state Governor, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun made this known at the advocacy program on breastfeeding held at the Obada Primary Health Centre, Ewekoro Local Government and Idiya Primary Health Centre, Abeokuta North Local Government to commemorate the International Breastfeeding Week.
Mrs. Abiodun who was represented by the wife of the Commissioner for Physical Planning, Mrs. Comfort Odunlami at Obada and the wife of the Permanent Secretary, Governor’s Office, Mrs. Keji Bajela at Idiya said skilled counseling services would ensure that mothers and families received the support and reassurance needed to nourish their babies optimally.
She added that she would ensure further engagements with key players in the health sector promising not to relent on her oars until the exclusive breastfeeding rate of the state which was 20.9% according to Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey(MICS 2017) was doubled within two years.
“I will ensure further engagement with key players in this sector and will not relent on my oars till the exclusive breastfeeding rate of the State, 20.9% (MICS 2017) is doubled within the next two years”.
Mrs. Abiodun noted that she had been at the forefront of the campaign for exclusive breastfeeding through many fora with women and policy makers.
” As the First Lady of the state, I have been at the forefront of this campaign for exclusive breastfeeding through many fora with women and policy makers through advocacy and by appealing personally for mothers and caregivers through my radio jingle which is aired every day”.
Healthcare practitioners at the events enlightened nursing mothers present more on the benefits of breastfeeding to mothers and babies and the best sitting posture for the convenience of both mother and baby.
They also enjoined mothers to visit the Primary Health Centres after the first six months of the exclusive breastfeeding to be educated on the best form of diet to introduce to their babies for good nutrition easy digestion.
