World Breastfeeding Week: Lagos state govt urges mothers to promote child health through breastfeeding

As the world marks 2019 Breastfeeding Week, Lagos State Government has called on mothers to practice exclusive breastfeeding to promote the health of their babies.

The wife of the Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs Oluremi Hamzat, made the call during dinner to mark the closing ceremony of a three-day workshop organised by National Centre for Women Development (NCWD), in collaboration with the Peace and Advocacy Initiative in Abuja.

The World Breastfeeding Week, inaugurated in 1991 from Aug. 1 to Aug. 7, is an annual event held in over 120 countries across the globe to promote breastfeeding as an antidote for mother/child wellbeing.

ALSO READ: Police arraign trader for allegedly beating up, stripping neighbour

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the 2019 Breastfeeding Week will focus on implementing
maternity and paternity leave, along with a parent-friendly work environment.

Hamzat, therefore, said that engaging in exclusive breastfeeding would protect the baby from diseases, as well as
foster healthy growth and development in the child.

She added that “Aug. 1 to Aug. 7 is World Breastfeeding Week, we try to do exclusive breastfeeding and encourage
mothers to do the same.

“As for me, my mother breastfed me for almost three years and you can see the difference.

“So, when we encourage mothers to breastfeed their babies, the child will be well-fed and a well-breastfed baby will have fewer visits to the hospital.”

Hamzat reiterated the Lagos State Government’s commitment toward supporting the people, especially women.