By Jamiu Ganiyu
The wife of the Governor of Osun State, Mrs. Kafayat Oyetola has tasked nursing mothers in State to adhere strictly to the six months exclusive breastfeeding as recommended by the United Nations Children’s Fund and medical experts.
The Osun First lady gave the charge to nursing mothers today at the sideline event of a public sensitization campaign against open defecation held in Ikire area of Osun State.
She said available facts and researches have shown that exclusive breastfeeding provides the ideal nutrients needed by infants to grow without any hitches or whatsoever to their development.
In her words, “exclusively breastfeed our newborn for the first six months. Researches have shown that breastmilk provides the ideal nutrition for infants”
She expressed confidence that exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months protects the infant against infections and all other related illnesses that confront the newborn babies within that period.
“Babies who are breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months, without any formula, have fewer infections, respiratory illnesses, and bouts of Diarrhoea. Diarrhea is a leading disease arising from open defecation practice”
She, therefore, called on mothers to be at the forefront of the campaign to stop open defecation in order to guarantee the health of their communities and the state in general.