The wife of the Governor of Taraba state Mrs Agyin Kefas, has called on women across the state to support and practice exclusive breastfeeding.
The called, if strictly adhered to, she believed would go a long way to enhance the health and well-being of infants and children.
The appeal, as noticed by our correspondent, was made during the World Breastfeeding Week celebration, themed “Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All,” held on Thursday at the Catholic Cathedral Conference Hall in Jalingo, the state capital.
Represented by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bondiya Buma, Mrs. Kefas emphasized that breast milk is the only food and drink a baby needs for the first six months of life.
She also expressed concern over the high rates of maternal and neonatal deaths and malnutrition in the state.
In response to these issues, Mrs. Kefas has proposed the “Taraba State Maternity Benefits Establishment Bill” to the Taraba State House of Assembly.
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The bill aims to regulate the employment of mothers in the state civil service and establish creches in public workplaces for breastfeeding and nursing mothers.
Speaking at the event, UNICEF Chief Field Officer for Bauchi, Dr. Tushar Rane, highlighted breastfeeding as a societal equalizer that gives every child, regardless of socio-economic status, the best start in life.
He underscored the vital role of breastfeeding in ensuring infant survival, health, and well-being.
Both Mrs. Kefas and the leadership of the UNICEF, burged fathers to support their wives in practicing exclusive breastfeeding.
