Yobe Celebrates World Breastfeeding Week with Emphasis on Exclusive Breastfeeding
Yobe State recently celebrated World Breastfeeding Week with an event at the Shehu Sule College of Nursing and Midwifery, Damaturu, drawing over 500 lactating mothers. The celebration was part of a national effort to break the world record for simultaneous breastfeeding, previously set by the Philippines.
The state’s Health Commissioner, Dr. Mohammed Lawan Gana, highlighted the significance of the event in raising awareness about the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding. He emphasized that the 2024 theme, “Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All,” aligns with Governor Mai Mala Buni’s policy to improve the living conditions of pregnant women and young children.
Dr. Gana noted that Yobe State has implemented policies to provide free healthcare services and medications to pregnant mothers and children under five, significantly reducing morbidity and mortality rates. The Executive Secretary of the Primary Healthcare Board, Dr. Babagana Kundi Machina, added that the celebration aimed to increase awareness about breastfeeding’s benefits and address the state’s low breastfeeding rate of 34%, as reported in the 2021 MICS survey.
Dr. Kundi emphasized the importance of breastfeeding for both maternal and infant health and acknowledged the support from various partners, including UNICEF, WHO, and other organizations, which contributed to the success of the event.
