Ogun harps on exclusive breastfeeding

The Ogun State government has charged stakeholders in the health sector across the state to intensify efforts at promoting exclusive breastfeeding among lactating and expectant mothers.

Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, gave this charge during an event commemorating this year’s World Breast Feeding Week celebration organised by the Ogun State Primary Health Care Development Board, Abeokuta.

According to the governor, represented by the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye, for this to be achieved, improvement must be on communication and information dissemination to mothers on the need for exclusive breast feeding which had  been stagnant at seventeen percent since  2013 , adding that ‘’If breast feeding was properly done there will be brain development, parental bonding which will produce cluster of people with intellectual capability and psychomotor activity which will globally lead to productivity and growth’’.

He explained further that exclusive breast feeding if well promoted would help children to develop their full potentials and would ultimately lead to the enhancement of the country’s economic growth.

In the view of a Consultant Paediatrician, Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Dr. Morufat Ogundeyi,’’ breast milk contains 88% of water and it is the primary source of nutrition for babies which saves at least 1.3 million lives annually likewise prevents child hood killer diseases among the children ‘’.

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Dr. Ogundeyi also urged all stakeholders to assist mothers in promoting exclusive breast feeding by providing necessary assistance and enabling environment for the practice to thrive as a way of preventing  children under  age  five from malnutrition and untimely death.