Nursing mothers were on Wednesday, advised to exclusively breastfeed their babies from the day of birth to six months without adding water or any supplement.
This emphasis was the focus of an awareness talk held at the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, Abia State, southeast region.
According to the Head of Nursing Department at Federal Medical Centre,Umuahia, Ms Nwanyieze Mba, “There is no better time to begin the awareness than now because of the increasing number of malnourished and dehydrated infants that are brought to the antenatal ward frequently because of the inability of the mothers to breastfeed 8-12 times a day.”
Also, a pediatrician, Dr Amara Okafor, while addressing the nursing mothers, stressed the consequences of not adhering to breast feeding.
Among the risks she highlighted is bacterial contamination in infants as well as the babies’ immunity being very low which makes them vulnerable to diseases.
The pediatrician lamented that about 37% of mothers were not feeding their babies with breast milk and hinted that the trend must stop if Nigerian women want healthy babies and a healthy future.
Some of the nursing mothers who attended the breastfeeding awareness talk said that they would ensure that their babies’ future and health become priority.
They disclosed that they would carry the campaign home to every nursing mother in their communities because they agree that it is indeed the only way to protect the child.
The highlight of the breastfeeding awareness talk was the presentation of gifts to some well-fed babies whose mothers have adhered strictly to exclusive breastfeeding.
