Wife of Enugu State Governor, Nkechinyere Mbah, has called on nursing mothers to take proper care of their babies and breastfeed them exclusively for at least six months after delivery to boost their immune system against diseases.
She made the call on Tuesday, August 1,2023, when she paid a visit to Maternity section of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT Teaching hospital, Parklane Enugu, where she cleared the bills of six newly born babies who were discharged but could not go home because they could not paid their bills.
The Governor’s wife who donated some items to new born babies at the post natal ward, told their mothers that exclusive breastfeeding remains the fundamental right of a new born baby till at least six months as it promotes good health and mental alertness of the baby, urged mothers to ensure up-to-date immunization.
Mrs. Mbah, assured that the Governor Peter Mbah administration had already marshaled out plans to reform the health sector to make it more qualitative and affordable, adding that the governor had equally taken particular note of the need to improve quality of maternal, infant, and child healthcare in the state.
“Exclusive and extended breastfeeding is not easy, but it is something you have to do. Your baby deserves to be well breastfed. It boosts their immune system and I never really had the need to be taking children to the hospital, except for immunisation, because my babies were healthy. So, I can tell you from experience that breastfeeding really works. So I encourage you to breastfeed our babies. Forget about people that do about two or three months of breastfeeding”.
Speaking, the Chief Nursing Officer, Post-Natal Ward, Rosemary Osuoji, ESUT Teaching Hospital said: “Besides the items and cash gifts to nursing mothers, the wife of the governor also attended to the postnatal mothers, who have been discharged several weeks ago, but could not afford hospital bills due to financial constraints. So, she settled their bills of about six of them and they are now free to go home”.
Speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Enugu State Ministry of Health, Dr. Ifeanyi Agujiobi, said the administration was already working to increase maternity leave in the state from four to six months.
“Today marks the beginning of World Breastfeeding Week. The emphasis is on exclusive breastfeeding to make sure that women that have just delivered implement the policy so that the immune systems of the babies will be well built and those new infants will be free from neonatal diseases and infection. That is the way to go.
“Presently, nursing mothers are entitled to four months maternity leave, but we are currently working through the Office of the Head of Service to see if that could be increased to six months of fully paid maternity leave.”, he explained.
He advised pregnant women to register for antenatal care immediately after conception in order to ensure proper care of the baby before delivery.
On his part, the Chief Medical Director of ESUT Teaching Hospital, Dr. Hyacinth Onah, thanked the wife of the governor for her magnanimity and for her encouraging words to the nursing mothers, reiterating that exclusive breastfeeding makes the children healthier.
On her part, the Chief nursing officer, post natal ward, ESUT Teaching hospital, Ijeoma Osoji, commended the Governor’s wife for the “unexpected gesture”. She , described it as “heartening”.
Osuoji, said: “Besides the items and cash gifts to nursing mothers, the wife of the governor also attended to the postnatal mothers, who have been discharged several weeks ago, but could not afford hospital bills due to financial constraints. So, she settled their bills of about six of them and they are now free to go home”.
One of the beneficiaries, Precious Eneh, who gave birth to triplets, thanked the Governor’s wife for the gifts give to her babies.. She said she prayed in the morning for God to bless her and “it was a prayer answered’ .
The One week activities which started Tuesday August 1 will end on Monday August 7, 2023.
uthor: Maureen Ikpeama