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*By Oluniyi Isamotu
The Osun State government has flagged off the 2024 world breastfeeding week with a record attendance of breastfeeding mothers at the event held in Osogbo, the state capital.
The Breastfeeding week was flagged off by the First Lady of the state, Chief (Mrs) Titilola Adeleke, who was represented by the wife of Commissioner for Environment, Mrs Funmilayo Adejoorin.
In her address, the Osun first lady said, “Breast-milk is the ideal food for infants. It is safe, clean, and contains antibodies that help protect against many common childhood illnesses. Breast-milk provides all the energy and nutrients that the infant needs for the first months of life, and it continues to provide up to half or more of a child’s nutritional needs during the second half of the first year, and up to one third during the second year of life.”
“It is in this vein, that Osun State is joining other States of the country and the other parts of the World in the celebration of the 2024 World Breastfeeding week to improve maternal and child health survival in the State.”
“I therefore want to implore all mothers and caregivers to embrace this great opportunity and hold fast to the optimal infant and young child feeding practices to promote the mothers and children health survival in the state.”
In his remarks at the event, the Special Adviser on Public Health to the Governor Dr Adekunle Akindele, eulogized the wife of the Governor for his constant support for the health sector of the state, while equally applauding development partners for their unrelentless contribution to the health progress in Osun.
“Our Governor is committed to ensuring that Breastfeeding friendly workplace are provided in both public and private institutions, while I’m reiterating the Governor’s will to continue to support healthcare caregivers in ensuring that nursing mothers are duely reformed for the benefit of Breastfeeding in both public and private hospitals.”
He further said, the Governor is impressing it on other institutions to create breastfeeding centres for our nursing mothers to have conducive centres.
He further appraised the Governor’s effort in stabilising the peace of the state as even in the wake of discontent and protest against the APC government at the national level, Osun government is still in active service to its people.
The breastfeeding flag-off week is considered as one of the largest joint campaigns undertaken by international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF. It’s objective is to promote the benefits of breastfeeding to infants, young children, women and communities and is globally celebrated annually from 1st – 7th August to create awareness and draw attention of the populace to the benefits of breastfeeding.
This year’s theme is tagged ‘Closing the Gap, Breastfeeding Support for All.’’
Among dignitaries at the event is the Special Adviser on Primary Health to the Governor, Dr Michael Oyerinde, the Chairman Primary Healthcare Board, Alhaji Tajudeen Adisa, PS Ministry of Health, Dr Isiaka Adekunle, ES SPHCB, Dr Oluwole Fabiyi, representative of UNICEF, W.H.O, HFDI, NPCHCDA State Director among others.
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