Stakeholders have lamented the low rate of exclusive breastfeeding among lactating mothers, saying it is a fundamental right of the child.
They explained that in order to help their infants develop a healthy immune system, all mothers must commit to six months of exclusive breastfeeding before starting 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’, held on Thursday in Abeokuta,, Ogun State capital.
The wife of the governor, Bamidele Abiodun, in her address stated that the initiative aims to raise awareness about exclusive breastfeeding and address harmful nutrition practices.
Mrs Abiodun, who was represented by Dr Yinka Elemide, wife of the State Assembly’s Speaker, stated that the state’s exclusive breastfeeding percentage is only 33.2 per cent, a significant distance from the World Health Organization’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 have left majority of nursing mothers with little time to devote to breastfeeding their children.
In her remarks, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, represented by the Executive Secretary of the State Primary Healthcare Board, Elijah Ogunsola, noted that the week is celebrated to remind mothers, stakeholders and government of the need to join in advocating exclusive breastfeeding.
Coker stated that the health of the mother and child is of utmost importance to the government and is on the front runner.
“My advice is for all stakeholders to use this week to reflect and see that we have an advantage created by God it is not affected by dollar or the economy so we should not starve our children.”
Victoria Adebiyi, State Coordinator of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, commended Ogun for joining the global celebration, maintaining that every child deserves to be well nourished.
Adebiyi asserted that mothers should be educated and prepared mentally and emotionally from the beginning of their pregnancy.