Promote, support exclusive breastfeeding, Ebonyi First Lady charges traditional rulers, legislators

<p>The wife of Ebonyi State Governor, Mary-Maudaline Nwifuru, has called on the traditional rulers, legislators, religious leaders, women and men organisations, and policymakers in the state to use their different platforms to promote and support exclusive breastfeeding.</p>, <p>According to her, exclusive breastfeeding remains a veritable means towards the eradication of child malnutrition.</p>, <p>Nwifuru gave the charge during the launching of the 2023 World breastfeeding week campaign tagged ‘Enabling breastfeeding – Making a difference for working parents’.</p>, <p>The event held at Azuiyiokwu Mother and Child Health Centre, Abakaliki, attracted WHO, USAID-BAN, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Women Affairs and other health partners.</p>, <p>Nwifuru, however, charged lactating mothers to embrace exclusive breastfeeding so as to improve the development of their babies, adding that her office is committed to supporting and protecting the rights of women, girls, and children.</p>, <p>Also, the head of the Baby-friendly unit of the State Ministry of Health, Mrs Ngozi Nkama, noted that breast milk has all the required nutrients for the mental, physical and overall development of infants and newborns adding that the bonding achieved between mother and child through breastfeeding is psychologically beneficial to both parties.</p>, <p>She, however, pleaded with the First Lady to support the taking of the campaign to the hinterlands.</p>, <p>Collaborating, the State Nutrition focal person for (USAID-BA-N) Mr Clinton Ofoegbu, urged the governor’s wife to champion the implementation that will guarantee at least 18 weeks of paid leave to lactating mothers and two weeks for their husbands in civil and public service in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organisation (WHO).</p>, <p>According to him, the absence of an operative policy to protect lactating mothers in workspaces often take a negative toll on the campaign for six months of exclusive breastfeeding for adequate baby nutrition.</p>, <p>Clinton note