Dr Sunday Yerumoh, the Director of Primary Health Care in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo, has advised nursing mothers to exclusively breast feed their babies for six months for their health and the babies.
Yerumoh made the call on Wednesday in Igarra as part of the activities to commemorate the 2017 World Breastfeeding Week with the theme: ‘Sustaining Breastfeeding-Together” holding.
He emphasised that exclusive breastfeeding of every infant for the first six months would give them access to vital nutrients for growth.
The medical practitioner also said breastfeeding adequately provided all the necessary nutrients in the first six months of life that would enhance a child’s physical and mental development .
“It helps the newborn to develop immunity to fight diseases. It is also vital for the health of the nursing mothers and bond mother and child.
“It helps to reduce bleeding after delivery, helps in family planning and offers protection against some diseases, including breast cancers,” he said.
He also urged employers to provide liberal work conditions for nursing mothers so that they could combine breastfeeding and work together.
“It is time to fully recognise, protect and support all nursing mothers all over the world and ensure that exclusive breastfeeding works,” he said.
He called for review of the nation’s labour laws and practices on breastfeeding so as to uphold the breastfeeding rights of working mothers.
Yerumoh called on government at all levels to strive to raise awareness on the rights of working mothers to breastfeed and the importance of exclusive breastfeeding.
“We will be having road shows and public enlightenment programmes on breastfeeding in communities, starting from Aug 3.
“We will be engaging health workers, community leaders, youths, women, government and non-governmental organisations to foster partnership for sustaining breastfeeding.”
The director expressed the council’s commitment to support the nursing mothers to breastfeed their babies with full maternity leave benefits.
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