The Wife of Abia State Governor, Mrs. Priscilla Otti
As Abia state government through the ministry of health set to kick off this year breastfeeding awareness campaign, the wife of the Governor, Mrs. Priscilla Otti has appealed to all expectant and nursing mothers not to substitute breastfeeding their babies with formulas.
Mrs. Otti made the appeal when the management of the ministry of health and their development partners paid her a courtesy visit in her Government House Office in Umuahia the state capital to brief her on the week long activities marking this year breastfeeding programme in Abia state.
The Governor’s wife said that no substitute or alternatives can be compared to the benefits of breastfeeding to babies and advised mothers to at least breastfeeds their babies exclusively for six months.
However, Mrs. Otti called on nursing mothers to take advantage of opportunities provided by the state government to improve on their health and well-being, describing the administration of Governor Otti as one that is intentional about the health of Abians.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary, Abia Primary Health Development Agency, Dr. Kalu Ulu Kalu said that they have come to intimates the Governors wife on the week long activities on breastfeeding campaign which will start from 1st of August to 7th August.
The activities will feature breastfeeding show, teachings, baby show and gifts to nursing mothers.
The reason for all this activities and campaigns which will be done simultaneously nationwide is to reawaken the core values of breast milk to babies.
Dr. Kalu however, solicits the support of the Governors wife in mobilizing the wives of the local government mayors, assistance in purchasing the gifts that would be shared to expectant and nursing mothers.
“Our expectation on the grand finale of the breastfeeding programme is 500 expectant and nursing mothers ” Dr. Kalu said.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Ifeyinwa Uma-Kalu said that breastfeeding is cheaper and carries all the nutrients that will make the baby healthy and immune from diseases.
In their goodwill messages, representatives of world health organisations, Dr. Jubril Musa and his Unicef counterpart, Dr. Ephraim Chukwu applauded Abia government on its support for health which was evident in its budget for health this year.
However, they task the government to step up its campaign on maternal child breastfeeding adding that no alternative is as beneficial as breastfeeding.
