By Ochiaka Ugwu
Centre for Well-Being and Integrated Nutrition Solutions (C-WINS), a leading independent organization dedicated to policy, research and practice for well-being has partnered Federal Ministry of Health Social Welfare and other nutrition partners to increase awareness on exclusive breastfeeding.
Speaking during the event of Community and Religious Sensitization Engagement as part of the activities marking the 2024 World Breastfeeding Week held in Abuja with the theme: “Closing the Gap, Breastfeeding Support for All”, Team Lead for C=WINS, Ndidichukwu Odoh stressed the need for nursing mothers to engage in exclusive breastfeeding to protect the baby and make sure they are healthy.
She said they were here to engage Ward Development Committee Leads, sensitize them to ensure that the message of exclusive breastfeeding for all nursing mothers for healthy and protection of both mother and baby.
She informed that the Ward Development Committee leads play important role at the grassroots level where most of the women reside.
“We need to ensure that nursing mothers engage in exclusive breastfeeding to protect the baby and make sure they are healthy.
“We are here to engage Ward Development Committee Leads, sensitize them to ensure that the message gets to the community for the nursing mothers to engage in exclusive breastfeeding that will lead to healthy life.
“The Ward Development Committee leads play important role at the grassroots level where most of the women reside. We have a structure of engagements, the National, sub-national down to Local Government and then ward.
“The ward committee has direct role to households, women groups and youth group. Given the fact they interface with the people at the grassroots, they are better positioned to disseminate the exclusive breastfeeding message effectively” she said.
Also speaking, Health Educator in the FCT Primary Healthcare Board, Mrs. Umeh Chinyere said lack of knowledge and cultural belief were the most factors hindering exclusive breastfeeding practice maintaining that increased sensitization would help in solving that.
One of the Ward Community Leads and Deputy Chief Imam of Nyanya Central Mosque, Mohammed Mahmud promised to disseminate the information in the mosque on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding.
