Cross River’s Commissioner for Health, Dr Henry Ayuk, has asserted that the primary function of a mother’s breasts is for the effective breastfeeding of her child and not other considerations.
Ayuk disclosed this on Saturday in Calabar during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) while commemorating World Breastfeeding Week with the theme, “Closing The Gap: Breastfeeding Support For All.”
NAN reports that World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated annually from August 1 to 7 to emphasise the need to create awareness on improving breastfeeding and its advantages to society.
The Commissioner told women that if they had decided to give birth and raise children, it was essential for them to ensure that the children were properly breastfed to prevent malnutrition and stunting in the nation.
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According to him, the stunting rate in Cross River is one of the highest in the nation, and it was not good for the image of the state.
“We are not taking our activities this week lightly as we are also working towards ensuring that the government assist children in the provision of micronutrients.
“This week, we emphasise the importance of breastfeeding, good nutrition both for the mother and child and the need for proper bonding between mother and child which is one of the benefits of breastfeeding,” he said.
He also called on institutions to ensure that the workplaces were made conducive for mothers to breastfeed their children without being separated from them.
On his part, Dr Obogo Idoko, Head of the Nutrition Division in the State Ministry of Health, said the present administration in Cross River was working hard to close the breastfeeding gap in the state.
Obogo said in the past, the political will to drive nutrition activities and release funds needed to address nutrition gaps such as ignorance and social and cultural practices, among others, were very low.
“As we speak, the Governor has released the sum of N100 million naira to support this year’s activities, and so, with this much-needed funding and will, we can overcome a number of challenges.
“Breastfeeding does not only help the infants to develop and have immunity, it also helps mothers to reduce body weight and to avoid breast cancer.
“The issue of the breast sagging is one of the erroneous beliefs that discourages exclusive breastfeeding and one of the gaps we intend to bridge to fight malnutrition, stunting and other deficiencies in the state,” he maintained.