World Breastfeeding Day: Osun Governor’s wife tasks nursing mothers on exclusive breastfeeding

By Richard Akintade, Osogbo

Osun State Governor’s wife, Chief Mrs Titilola Adeleke, has emphasised the need for nursing mothers to embrace exclusive breastfeeding for a healthy growth of their children.

Mrs Adeleke made this passionate plea during the flag-off of World Breastfeeding Week, 2023, held at the State Primary Health Care Center, Isale – Agbara, as well as a special programme organised for working nursing mothers in the employ of the State Government held at the Local Government Service Commission Hall, Abere, in commemoration of year 2023 Breastfeeding Day.

The governor’s wife said that exclusive breastfeeding was fortified with the required nutrients to prevent newborn babies from contracting diseases such as diarrhoea, vomiting, and respiratory infection, among others

The Programme with the theme, ” Enabling Breastfeeding: Making a difference for working parents” was put together by the office of the wife of the Governor, Ministry of Women, Children and Social Affairs, and Osun Primary Health Care Board.

Mrs Adeleke stated that the week long campaign is aimed at raising awareness on the benefits derivable from exclusive breastfeeding as recommended by the World Health Organization and UNICEF.

She expressed regret that, working mothers do not have the luxury of giving their babies enough breastfeeding at work after resuming from maternity leave due to their work schedule, amidst other factors which, according to her, require a paradigm shift in the interest of their babies’ future.

Mrs Adeleke, who advised nursing mothers to attach utmost priority to exclusive breastfeeding, considering its benefits, not only for the babies, rather it will lower the risk of mothers contracting breast or ovarian cancer among other diseases. She then enjoined working breastfeeding mothers to take advantage of the State Government creche Abere to enable them to give their babies enough breastfeeding while on duty.

The Governor’s wife, who subsequently donated cash and special gift to the pregnant mother at Isale Agbara, whose delivery coincides with the programme, and other nursing mothers, also presented babies items to the lucky winners of the quiz competition organised by the State Primary Health Care Board Osogbo.

In their separate welcome address, Commissioner for Women, Children and Social Affairs, Mrs Ayobola Awolowo, and her counterpart from Ministry of Health, Barr. Jola Akintola advised the mothers to follow the breastfeeding protocols before introducing their babies to other food items after six months to build the babies immune system.

The duo contended that practising exclusive breastfeeding would sharpen the babies brain and reduce expenses on medical attention. They further urged the breastfeeding mothers to eat a balanced diet always for their well-being and that of their children.

In their separate goodwill messages, UNICEF Consultant in Osun State,Mr Isreal Olakanmi, Chairperson Nutrition Society of Nigeria, State Chapter, Dr, Funmilola Otitoola, and Representative of World Health Organisation commended Governor Adeleke for running a people-centered administration and prays God to continue strength him to fulfill the promises made to the people of Osun State.

They also eulogised the organisers’ ingenuity for deming it fit to gather the lactating mothers to remind them of the global best practices on the occasion of breastfeeding day in their own interest.

The UNICEF representative used the opportunity to re-echo the continued support of the organisation to health issues in Osun State.

Highlights of the event was the playlet performed by the health workers at Isale -Agbara, Osogbo, to spice the programme.

Present at the event were the Wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs Sola Adewusi, Wife of the Rt. Honourable Speaker, Mrs Monsurat Egbedun, Special Adviser to Mr. Governor on Primary Health Development Board, Dr Oderinde Michael, Permanent Secretaries, Iyaloja General, CMD Uniosun Teaching Hospital,Prof Peter Olaitan, Executive Secretary of Osun State Primary Health Care Development Board, Dr. Oluwole Fabiyi, Permanent Secretary HMB, Dr Abayomi Oni, as well as all the Directors, both in the Ministry of Health and the Primary Health Care Development Board, among others.