August 08, (THEWILL) – No fewer than 500 nursing mothers in Akwa Ibom State have received financial support and gift packs from the First Lady, Pastor Patience Umo Eno, in commemoration of the 2024 World Breastfeeding Week.
The 2024 World Breastfeeding Week tagged “Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support For All”, took place at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Uyo, with nursing mothers from the 31 local government areas of the state in attendance.
The First Lady commended nursing mothers who are committed to exclusive breastfeeding, describing such dedication as an exhibition of great love, care and selflessness.
She pledged her commitment to continue supporting breastfeeding mothers through regular sensitisation and empowerment programmes via her pet project, the Golden Initiative For All (GIFA).
“I commend the unwavering commitment and dedication of mothers to the breastfeeding practice. By giving your children the best possible start in life, you all have exhibited great love, care, and selflessness in bonding with your treasured children.
“Maternal and child health is one of the thematic areas of my Pet Project, the Golden Initiative For All (GIFA). I firmly believe that every child deserves a healthy start and breastfeeding is a vital part of this journey, hence my commitment to supporting breastfeeding mothers in our state through programmes like this that provide a platform for breastfeeding mothers to connect, gain knowledge and build a stronger community of women who understand that breast milk is a gift from God that provides optimal nutrition and boosts immunity,” she noted.
She also reiterated Governor Umo Eno’s commitment to ensuring that the healthcare facilities in the state are well-equipped to provide proper care to nursing mothers.
Setting the tone for the event earlier, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Dr. Ini Adiakpan, noted that breastfeeding is essential as it highlights a wider thought for the future and health of children as well as exposes women to the strategies.
Dr. Adiakpan stated that the State Government has made provisions for laws and policies to favour breastfeeding mothers who are interested in raising healthy and wealthy children, with best practices, urging the women to implement the lessons learnt.
Presenting a keynote address at the event on breastfeeding, Dr. Christy Akwaowo said the week, which is observed from August 1st to 7th every year, advocates for breastfeeding as the ideal food for all infants, which contains antibodies to protect the child, especially when they are fed exclusively and done as often as possible.
She mentioned benefits of breastfeeding to include faster postpartum recovery, increased bonding between mother and child, and reduction in the risk of high blood pressure and breast and ovarian cancers among other benefits, including helping the children to build strong immunity, as well as serving as a natural population control method.
Goodwill messages were received from development partners, including representatives from ECEWS Dr Enwongo Awak and the State Coordinator of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Nweke Clement, who commended the First Lady’s initiatives in promoting the health and well-being of children.
The highpoint of the event was the practical session on breastfeeding of babies by some of the mothers under the tutelage of a Senior Nursing Officer, Mrs Naomi Edidiong and the presentation of gift packs and cash to lactating mothers by the First Lady.
