By Okechukwu Onuegbu
The Executive Secretary, Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ASPHCDA), Dr Chioma Ezenyimulu, Wednesday, urged fathers to support their wives in promoting exclusive breastfeeding in the state.
Ezenyimulu, who disclosed this at the 2022 World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) held at Maternal and Child Health Centre, Amawbia in Awka South LGA, explained that exclusive breast feeding would ensure provision of vital and adequate nutrients required for healthy, maximal growth and development as well as eradication of childhood malnutrition in the state.
According to her, although there was an increased in exclusive breastfeeding in Anambra State from 17 per cent in 2018 to 27 per cent, it was still low compared to national target of 50% by 2025.
Ezenyimulu said that Anambra recorded an increase in the rate of exclusive breastfeeding due to intensified awareness and counseling programmes at health facilities.
Also speaking, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike, assured that the current administration were geared towards the promotion of maternal and child survival strategies.
Obidike urged fathers to support their breastfeeding wives as exclusive breastfeeding could be exhausting for mothers when they were not psychologically, physically and emotionally balanced to breastfeed optimally.
In a remark, Dr Moses Ohamaeme, the Cluster Coordinator representing the World Health Organisation and United Nations agencies, said exclusively breastfed children become healthy, productive adults, and protected from severe complications arising from childhood killer diseases.