Anambra Health Agency Calls for Greater Awareness on Exclusive Breastfeeding

The Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ASPHCDA), has called for intensified efforts in awareness campaigns on exclusive breastfeeding in the state.

The agency made the call even as it disclosed that the rate of exclusive breastfeeding in state increased from 17 per cent in 2018 to 27 per cent.

Dr Chioma Ezenyimulu, Executive Secretary of the agency made the disclosure during the event of the 2022 World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) at the
Maternal and Child Health Centre, Amawbia in Awka.

WBW is celebrated on August 1-7 every year, to raise awareness and galvanise actions to promote and encourage exclusive breastfeeding.

The theme for this year’s commemoration – ‘Step Up for Breastfeeding: Educate and Support’.

Ezenyimulu said that Anambra recorded an increase in the rate of exclusive breastfeeding due to intensified awareness and counseling programmes at health facilities.

“The figure of 27 per cent is still low and below the national target of 50 per cent by 2025.

“We are calling on residents to become advocates of exclusive breastfeeding and support mothers to practice optimal breastfeeding.

“The practice of exclusive breast feeding will ensure the provision of vital and adequate nutrients required for healthy and maximal growth and development as well as eradication of childhood malnutrition in the state, ” she said.

Also speaking, Dr Afam Obidike, state’s Commissioner for Health, said that the efforts of 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.

“A mother needs to be psychologically, physically and emotionally balanced to breastfeed optimally. Therefore, fathers should be there to provide all that the woman needs, ” he said.

In his remarks Dr Moses Ohamaeme, Cluster Coordinator representing the World Health Organisation and United Nations agencies, said that exclusively breastfed children become healthy and productive adults.

According to him, such children are protected from severe complications arising childhood killer diseases