The Edo State Government has emphasized the importance of exclusive breastfeeding for infants and called for the collaborative efforts of stakeholders in educating the public to promote a culture of breastfeeding that supports mothers and benefits children.
The call was made by the Coordinator, Office of the Edo State First Lady, Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani, during a programme held in commemoration of the World Breastfeeding Week at the Edo Specialist Hospital (ESH) in Benin City. Stressing the importance of exclusive breastfeeding for infants beginning from the first six months from birth, she cited personal experience of breastfeeding her children for the first six months and two weeks after birth. She added that the practice significantly contributes to the overall health and well-being of infants.
According to Mrs. Anani, “Breast milk provides the ideal nutrition for infants, containing antibodies that protect against various illness and promote healthy development. Additionally, breast milk offers numerous advantages for mothers, including a reduced risk of certain health issues and a faster return to their pre-pregnancy weight. Despite these benefits, breastfeeding rates remain kind of low in many parts of our society. We must address the challenges that hinder breastfeeding, such as lack of support and misinformation about exclusive breastfeeding.
“By working together, we can create an enabling environment that encourages and supports breastfeeding in our society. I urge all stakeholders; the mothers, health professionals, and policymakers, to join hands in promoting exclusive breastfeeding in our communities. Let us provide mothers with the necessary support and education and resources to make profound decisions about breastfeeding. Let us work together to promote a culture of breastfeeding that benefits both the mothers and the children.”
The Chief Medical Director of ESH, Dr. Anthonia Njoku, commended Mrs. Anani, mothers, and stakeholders for their contributions. She emphasized that exclusive breastfeeding is crucial for infants, noting that it is not just about saving money; but about providing the best for infants. She encouraged mothers to prioritize breastfeeding, regardless of their busy schedules, as it significantly promotes the health and well-being of their children.
In her lecture on Breastfeeding, Matron Faith Osunbor noted that breast milk is the best nutrition for babies, offering unmatched benefits, which according to her, is rich in water, vitamins, and nutrients; making it a complete food. Citing the World Health Organization’s recommendations, she stated that exclusive breastfeeding is advised for the first six months, followed by complementary feeds with continued breastfeeding up to two years or more.
Matron Osunbor added that breast milk contains approximately 87 – 88% water, eliminating the need for additional water intake for babies. She underscored the benefits of breastfeeding for infants, mothers, families, society as a whole, and cautioned against administering unprescribed medications to babies with the warning that it can cause harm and negatively impact their development and well-being.
The programme featured drama presentation that highlighted key lessons on breastfeeding including proper positioning of the mother and child; dispelling common myths about breastfeeding amongst others. The question-and-answer session provided mothers the opportunity to interact with professionals and received firsthand information.
The highpoint of the programme was the assessment of babies, and gifts were presented to babies with the best skin texture, body weight, and general hygiene.
