Abia State First Lady, Mrs. Priscilla Otti has promised to support initiatives aimed at enhancing breastfeeding across the state.
Mrs. Otti who made the promise on Saturday in her office during the grand finale of the World Breastfeeding Week in the state, describing breastfeeding as a selfless acts a mother can perform in providing her children with the best possible start in life with love and dedication.
She enlisted the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding to include enhanced nutrition, infection reduction, enhanced immune system, better brain development, and economic and cost-effectiveness.
She noted that early initiation of exclusive breastfeeding would establish a good milk supply for the child, reduce the risk of newborn infection and provide bonding between the mother and the baby.
In her remarks, the state Commissioner for Health, Ngozi Okoronkwo, who was represented by Dr. Mrs. Angela Ifeanacho, advised nursing mothers to exclusively breastfeed their babies to protect them against malnutrition, retardness, and obesity, among others.
She said the state Ministry of Health was doing much to provide quality healthcare for Abians, in line with the policy thrust of Governor Otti.
In her speech, the acting Executive Secretary of Abia State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Mrs. Meg Onwuka, said the agency had carried out a lot of programmes to sensitise the public to the benefits of breastfeeding through rallies and the mass media.
Responding, some of the nursing mothers that received gifts from the First Lady, including Madam Modestus, Grace from Ikwuano LGA, and Mrs Eze Favour from Umuahia North, thanked Mrs. Otti for her benevolence.
