By Lucky Isibor
The Edo State chapter of Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN) has tasked nursing mothers in the state on exclusive breast feeding in the first six months of birth and continual breast feeding until the child is two years.
Members of MWAN gave the charge at the various activities lined up by the association to celebrate the 2024 Breast Feeding week which took place at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH), Irrua in Esan Central Local Government Area.
The breastfeeding week is an annual global programme aimed at creating sensitization towards positive breastfeeding practices and support for mothers to enable them improve breastfeeding for their young children with the aim of having exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months and continued breastfeeding until the child is 2 years of age. This year’s event with the theme, “Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All”, was organised by the Edo State chapter of MWAN in collaboration with the National Child Health Committee.
Activities marking the breastfeeding week which kick started with a radio talk show on breastfeeding at the A’s FM 99.9 at Uromi, dove tailed into an enlightenment session for nursing mothers on the benefits of breastfeeding to mother and child at the Maternal and Child Health Immunization Clinic at ISTH by medical doctors drawn from MWAN.
Over 50 mothers were educated by the facilitators – Dr Doherty Kike,Senior Registrar at the Department of Paediatrics ISTH and Dr Omosefe Paul-Evbuomwan, Senior Registrar, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology ISTH.
Madam President, Dr Irene Akhideno who lent her voice encouraged mothers to sustain the practice of exclusive breastfeeding.
The campaign on effective breastfeeding was also taken to places of worship as MWAN in Edo State represented by her President -Dr Irene Akhideno took the awareness creation to St Luke Chaplaincy at ISTH.
Issues around creating a safe and comfortable area for women to breastfeed their babies even during church activities and spousal support for breastfeeding mothers were discussed.
Responding to the enlightenment session, the Parish priest of St Luke Chaplaincy, Rev Fr Ewah thanked the team and committed to demarcating a portion for that purpose.
The breastfeeding week also had a radio talk show on Bside FM Benin City, where Prof Ayebo Sadoh, the Director, Institute of Child Health, University of Benin/University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) and Chair, Research Committee, MWAN Edo State, spoke to the topic, “Dispelling myths and encouraging support for nursing mothers”. There was also online sensitisation and advocacy in the various social media platforms.
Fliers and other public enlightenment materials were shared during the week long activities to mark the event.
Present at the event were, Madam President, Dr Irene Akhideno, Dr Ugbeni Henrietta, Dr- Doherty kike, Dr Omosefe Paul-Evbuomwan, Dr Osaretin Iyamu, Dr Fatelyn Okaka, Dr Lilian Akerele, Dr Mrs Azeke and nursing mothers across the various communities at Irrua and environs.