Niger State government has joined the global community in marking the world breastfeeding week with this year’s theme focusing on nutrition, food security, and poverty reduction.
This was contained in a statement signed Bologi Ibrahim Chief press secretary to the Governor made available to newsmen.
Wife of the Niger State governor, Fatima Mohammed Bago who flagged off the week in Minna re emphasized the significance of breastfeeding to children with a call on the expectant and nursing mothers to embrace exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months after delivery .
Fatima Bago who described breastfeeding as one of the earliest and most important foundation of a child’s health said, it provides essential nutrition, supports healthy growth and development and helps to protect babies during the most vulnerable stages of their lives.
She equally stressed that the responsibility must not be left to mothers alone as husbands must provide enabling environment for their wives, while employers should also support nursing mothers just as healthcare workers must continue to provide mothers with the right information, counselling and advice.
The Executive Director, Niger State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Junaidu Inuwa reaffirmed the need for a collective commitment to giving every child a healthy positive side of life through optimal breastfeeding, quality nutrition and accessible healthcare services.
Dr. Junaidu said, the commemoration of the world breastfeeding week should be more than an annual observance but a global call to action and a reminder to government and all stakeholders that breastfeeding remains one of the most effective intervention for child’s survival and promoting lifelong health.
He acknowledged a significant stride in the State in terms of breastfeeding analysis but insisted that more most be done in order to meet the global target of 60% of children to be exclusively breastfed by 2030.
He used the medium to commend the farmer governor for his numerous interventions in the health sector and described it as remarkable.
The theme for this year’s world breastfeeding week is, ” Breastfeeding for a sustainable start in life: strenghten what works”.
