As part of activities to celebrate the 2022 World Breastfeeding Week, the Bauchi State Government states that it is all set to reopen 320 nutrition centres to motivate breastfeeding and nutritional uptake of children in the state.
This was told by the Executive Secretary of Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Agency, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, during a conference on Friday in Bauchi.
The event in the state was conducted by the agency in partnership with Alive & Thrive Nigeria, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), under the theme: “Step Up for Breastfeeding.”
Mohammed stated that the centres known as `Baby Friendly Corners’ around the 20 local government areas of the state would be rebranded under support from development partners, adding that the centres would make awareness of ‘Good Winning Practices’ and make breastfeeding mothers understand about nutritional food processing via the usage of local variety crops.
As per him, the agency is partnering with partners to encourage advanced nutrition to boost infant and maternal health in the state.
Mohammed stated that as part of the week’s event, they ventured into advocacy via radio programmes and extended their reach to communities to motivate breastfeeding during the initial six months of birth.
Therefore, Mohammed approved for legislation to mandate Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) along with private organisations to set up creches in workplaces to allow nursing mothers to breastfeed their babies.
He asked a mother with twins or quadruplets to seek medical advice on breastfeeding infants.
Also remarking about the event, A&E State Team Lead, Chidi Asimobi, stated it had given an opportunity for major actors at various levels in society to interact and discuss ideas on how to partner up to bridge the existing breastfeeding gaps in the communities.
