Ohakim, Cleric Task Mothers On Breastfeeding

As the world marks breast feeding week, the Imo State Governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, has called on mothers to engaged in exclusive breast feeding of their babies.

Ohakim said breast feeding prevents malnutrition and infant mortality, adding that this year’s theme “Breast feeding: A vital Emergency Response… Are You Ready?” Was unique because it captured the essence of being prepared for emergency response needed to actively protect and support breast feeding.

He stressed that breast feeding is a life time shield that protects infants in emergencies, malnutrition and mortality.

Earlier in his speech, State Commissioner for Health, Dr Vin Udokwu, commended Ohakims administration for boosting the well-being of mother-and-child through healthcare delivery.

He said that childhood immunisation remained the deliberate effort to realise the world health assembly resolution, survival and protection of a child.

Udokwu maintained that Imo State has actively and successfully participated in all the rounds of the nationally organised polio campaigns leading to the present polio free status of the state since 2005, adding that Imo State is determined to sustained this units, the final eradication of poliomyelitis in the entire country.

The ceremony which was earlier postponed in order to capture the polio-free campaign which kicked off last Monday in the sate with a road walk led by the governor had the Catholic Archibishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, His Grace, Most Rev Anthony Obinna, calling on African leaders to show more commitment to the plight of the people, saying they should follow the path of truth at all times.

Delivering a sermon on the occasion marking the beginning of the World Breastfeeding week at the Assumpta Cathedral Owerri, the cleric maintained that because our leaders had towed the faith of corrupt, power, etc, they tend to neglect certain areas of public concern such as ensuring the health promotion of compulsory and exclusive breastfeeding of children till six months and above.