Kwara govt launches documents to promote exclusive breastfeeding
The Kwara State Government, on Thursday, launched two essential documents aimed at promoting nutrition among babies, pregnant women and nursing mothers in the State and environs.
According to reports, the state governor AbdulRahaman AbdulRazaq made this known at the launching ceremony of the documents, held at the Headquarters of the State Ministry of Health, Fate, Ilorin, in a bid to promote exclusive breastfeeding of children, particularly in the first one thousand days of its existence, to check infants mortality and ensure cognitive development.
The Governor, who was represented by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina Ahmed El-lmam disclosed that the documents would promote and support infants, pregnant women and nursing mothers with essential vitamins and minerals to reduce incidences of malnutrition.
He said the launching is in accordance with this Year’s theme of World Breastfeeding Week titled, “Closing the gap, breastfeeding support for all.”
Earlier, in her remarks, the first lady of Kwara State, Ambassador Professor Olufolake AbdulRazaq, noted that with the policy in place, mothers would subsequently have an enabling environment to breastfeed their babies at workplaces, health facilities and their Communities.
She assured Mothers and caregivers of more training on hygiene, complementary feeding and regularly monitoring children’s growth and development.
Also lending her voice, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina Ahmed El-lmam, represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Hajia Afusat Ibrahim, disclosed that the State had already approved a six-month maternity leave for women and expressed hope that the initiative would encourage exclusive breastfeeding.
Also speaking at the event, the Chairman, house Committee on Health and Environment, Hon Rasaq Owolabi, appealed to line ministries, departments and agencies in the health sector to make judicious use of the funds allocated to them to complement government efforts on health care delivery.
