Wife of Oyo Governor Engr. Tamunominini Makinde has sensitised women in the State on benefits of exclusive breastfeeding for their babies.
She said breast milk is the best food because it is safe, clean and contains antibody, which prevent babies from common illnesses and diseases, saying it provides energy and nutrients babies need in the first few months of life.
Speaking in Ibadan at the 2023 World Breastfeeding Week with the theme: “Enabling breastfeeding: Making difference for working parents”, organised by Oyo State Primary Healthcare Board in collaboration with Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria Project, Makinde noted that the event was to promote breast feeding for children, create awareness and promote benefit of breastfeeding.
She said: “This event is globally celebrated annually from the 1st to 7th of August, during the breastfeeding celebration, several fact regarding breastfeeding come to the forefront which include nutritional needs of the nursing mothers, support for the nursing mothers, breastfeeding frequency and timing among others.
“The week is considered the most joint extensive campaign on breastfeeding by international organisation such as WHO and UNICEF, the targeted audience in the campaign include the government, policy makers, employers, community and parents who will engage and play their critical role in empowering families on sustaining breastfeeding friendly environment.
“This year’s breastfeeding week is focus on informing people about challenges of the mothers associated with breastfeeding and parenting, anchor optimal paid leave in supporting mothers, engage with individuals and organisations, enhance collaboration and support for breastfeeding, galvanise action to improve support for nursing mothers and provision of relevant support for them in breastfeeding their children.”
She thanked Governor Seyi Makinde for supporting mothers and their babies, adding that health of women across the State is one of the priorities of the Governor.
The Permanent Secretary, Oyo Ministry of Health, Dr. Deji Adeyanju, said Makinde over the time has shown her love for mother’s and babies across the State.
He however said by adequately breastfeeding babies which is the best food for them “we are taking care of of the future of the babies.”
