BENIN CITY – The Edo State Government has urged community leaders and caregivers to intensify efforts in raising awareness on the importance of breastfeeding, which provides infants with best start to life.
Addressing journalists in Benin City, the Executive Secretary, Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency (EDSPHCDA), Dr. (Mrs). Julie Erhabor, said the theme of the celebration in 2021, “Protect Breastfeeding: A Shared Responsibility,” underscores the role of stakeholders in increased sensitization on the importance of breastfeeding for infants.
She noted, “The World Breastfeeding Week is a global campaign initiative of the United Nations (UN) to promote, protect and support breastfeeding as a strategy for achieving child survival and development in all nations of the world including Nigeria.”
“Breastfeeding is not just the job of the breastfeeding mother, it requires encouragement and support from skilled counsellors, family members, health care providers, employers, policy makers, and others. Breastfeeding is a fundamental intervention for growth and development of children,” the health expert added.
Erhabor further urged parents, caregivers, and community leaders to make the breastfeeding week celebration count for every mother and child in the community, noting, “Breastfeeding is of great benefit to the baby, the mother, family, community and the nation.
“At the community level, breastfeeding helps to reduce poverty which is in line with UN SDGs for 2030 – No poverty. It promotes environmental friendliness of no waste production. In addition, it equally enhances safer and more economically productive society, global security and conservation of funds besides child spacing.”
A baby show was organised to mark the World Breastfeeding Week, at the Edo State Central Hospital Immunization Unit to celebrate with nursing mothers and their babies, to assess the nutritional status of the babies and to make sure the mothers were breastfeeding their babies properly.
