Dr. Olufunmilayo Bankole, the Permanent Secretary of Lagos State Health District I, is calling on citizens, especially nursing mothers and pregnant women, to actively support the State Government’s initiative to promote the practice of proper and exclusive breastfeeding.
This essential measure will contribute to nurturing healthy and productive members of society among babies and infants.
The Health personnel made the call on Wednesday at an awareness and sensitisation programme to celebrate this year World Breastfeeding Week themed: “Enabling Breastfeeding: Making a Difference for Working Parents”, she stressed the need on why nursing mothers and pregnant women must ensure that children are exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life; adding that breastfeeding prevents hunger, malnutrition and ensures food security for babies.
The programme, initiated by the newly created Lagos State Health District I, which includes Agege, Ifako-Ijaiye, and Alimosho LGAs, in collaboration with the Office of the First Lady of Lagos State, kicked off with an awareness walk in the Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government area. Subsequently, nursing mothers and pregnant women received a health talk on the numerous benefits of breastfeeding at the Ifako-Ijaiye General Hospital and Ifako-Ijaiye Primary Healthcare Centre.
The event concluded with an advocacy visit to the Chairman of Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government.
She added that the State Government will continue to educate, inform and empower actors to provide and sustain breastfeeding-friendly environments for nursing mothers.
She assured that the State Government will not relent in putting in place policies and strategies geared towards creating a conducive atmosphere for nursing mothers to practise proper and exclusive breastfeeding.
Earlier, the Chairman of Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government, Hon. Usman Akanbi Hamzat, expressed appreciation to the State Government for organising the sensitization program on breastfeeding.
He emphasised that the yearly breastfeeding week celebration would provide citizens with essential knowledge about breastfeeding, leading to the overall well-being of society members.
Dr. Bamidele Mustapha, represented by Dr. Awobusiyi, the Medical Director of Ifako-Ijaiye General Hospital, encouraged mothers to prioritise their children’s health by exclusively breastfeeding them.
He advised mothers not to time their babies during breastfeeding and to ensure that the child derives maximum satisfaction from the process.
