The Enugu state Primary Health Care Development Agency (ENS-PHCDA) has declared the state wide month-long exclusive breastfeeding campaign it carried out as a huge success.
The Executive Secretary of ENS-PHCDA, Dr George Ugwu, told newsmen in Enugu, on Thursday, that the campaign had increased the number of expectant mothers attending anta-natal clinics in the state’s health facilities.
The National Daily recalled that the ENS-PHCDA launched an exclusive breastfeeding awareness campaign from Aug. 1 to Aug. 31 through the media, Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs), general hospitals and other health facilities in the state.
Ugwu said that within the month of August, the state witnessed massive and continuous media sensitisation, advocacy visits to community and religious leaders, and health facility-based health education on the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding.
He stated that ante-natal attendance remained a sure way of ensuring that expectant mothers, nursing mothers and their babies were secured from child-killer diseases and other illness that afflict mothers.
“We are happy that the month-long campaign has recorded a huge success through the increased number of expectant mothers attending anta-natal, which is the bedrock of mother-and-child health education, necessary for their protection.
“Ante-natal attendance also provides opportunity for would-be mothers to learn when, why and how breastfeeding should be administered and other safety precautions.
“We also used the campaign to appeal to mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers to support mothers to do exclusive breasting for the first six months of life and mix breast-milk with other food from six months to two years.
“We also hammered on the need for every child to take and complete all routine immunizations that have been made free by the state government and her partners,’’ he said.
Ugwu thanked the health-loving governor of the state, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, for his tremendous support that led to the huge success of the month-long campaign.
“The agency is also grateful to the wife of the governor, Mrs Monica Ugwuanyi’s foundation, the Ugo Touch of Life Foundation (UTOLF), for supporting the campaign with medical consumables.
“We thank our partners – WHO, UNICEF, Primary Health Care Development Agency, media and others – for their support as well,” he said.
The month-long exclusive breastfeeding campaign ended with a grand finale and baby show for Uzo Uwani and Nkanu West Local Government Areas on Aug. 30 and Aug. 31 respectively.
The United Nations, through the WHO, has set aside Aug. 1 to Aug. 7 yearly, as World Breastfeeding Week, whose theme for 2021 is: “Protect Breastfeeding, A Shared Responsibility”.
The week is meant to draw attention to critical issues of infant health and immune boost based on a well-practiced exclusive breastfeeding programme.
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