AS the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Enugu Zonal Office, rounds off the 2025 World Breastfeeding Week in 12 states, including Delta State, the Primary Healthcare Centre in Ogbeogologo in Asaba, the state capital, was agog with flurry of activities.
Nursing mothers, expectant mothers, nurses and other healthcare practitioners were present to deepen their understanding of exclusive breastfeeding and its benefits to child’s growth and development and the wellbeing of nursing and expectant mothers.
Addressing the large audience, the Delta State Commissioner for Health, Dr Joseph Onojame, said while the state government was fully in support of the global policies on breastfeeding, it must collectively strive to attain the World Health Organization (WHO) target of 50% exclusive breastfeeding.
The Commissioner, represented by Dr, Paul Yinkori, Executive Director, Delta State PHC Development Agency, said the government was poised to implement a six months maternity leave for working mothers and encourage breastfeeding support groups in the state.
Onojame said the approach would be to demystify myths surrounding breastfeeding, improve awareness on the importance of breastfeeding, implement enabling policies on breastfeeding such as early initiation within one hour of birth, exclusive breastfeeding for six months and continuous complimentary breastfeeding up to two years.
“We will implement six months maternity leave for working mothers and encourage breastfeeding support groups,” he stated.
He noted that the state was lagging behind at the exclusive breastfeeding rate at 27 per cent against the WHO standards of 50 per cent.
The commissioner stated: “I am pleased to welcome you to the 2025 World Breastfeeding Week grand finale with the theme, ‘Prioritise Breastfeeding: Create Support Systems ‘, to promote the enabling environment that helps women to breastfeed including support in the community and the workplace with adequate protection in government’s policies and law as well as sharing information and benefits of breastfeeding.
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