THE Ogun State government has raised concerns over the increase in the number of infants vulnerable to infectious diseases due to inadequate breast feeding.
It charged mothers and stakeholders in the health sector across the country to intensify efforts at promoting exclusive breast feeding.
This emphasis was the focus of the Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, at this year’s World Breast Feeding Week celebration, organised by the state’s Primary Healthcare Development Board, Abeokuta.
According to the governor, represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Babatunde Ipaye, improvement must be on communication and information dissemination to mothers on the need for exclusive breast feeding which had been stagnant at 17 per cent since 2013.
Consultant Paediatrician, Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Dr Morufat Ogundeyi, said that “breast milk contains 88 per cent of water and it is the primary source of nutrition for babies. It saves at least 1.3 million lives annually.”
Dr Ogundeyi also urged all stakeholders to assist mothers in promoting exclusive breast feeding by providing necessary assistance and enabling environment for the practise to thrive.