By: Abiola Rufai

The wife of Ogun State Governor, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun has urged nursing mothers in the state to effectively breastfeed their babies which according to her would protect them from sickness and diseases.

Mrs. Abiodun who gave the advice while on a day visit to Yewa South Local Government Primary Health Center, Leslie in Ilaro to create awareness on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding, said that to prevent visiting hospital often, every nursing mother must ensure they effectively breastfeed their babies for at least a year. 

The firstlady affirmed that exclusive breastfeeding enables strong  connectivity which tightened the bound between the mother and the child, advising that nursing mothers should not fill ashame to breastfeed their children at anytime. 

According to her, "I want implore us to ensure that we breastfeed our children always. Exclusive breastfeeding will makes our children to be free from any form of sickness and diseases.

"A nursing mother who engage in exclusive breastfeeding will not be visiting hospital always. And it will also strengthen the bound between you and your child".

Mrs. Abiodun promised that she would not relent at creating awareness until higher percentage of nursing mothers in the state involves in proper breastfeeding of their infants.

In her keynote address, the State Commissioner for Health, Mrs. Tomi Coker posited that, breastfeeding being an ancient act was a major nutrition that help infant grow and develop healthy.

The Health Commissioner pointed out that exclusive breastfeeding reduces breast cancer, diabetes and heart disease in mothers.

Appreciating the wife of the Governor for the breastfeeding awareness visit, the Chairman of the Local Government, Hon. Lateef Salami represented by the council's health supervisor, Alhaji Mudashiru Musa assured that authority of the local government would continue to give adequate support and awareness that would encourage exclusive breastfeeding by nursing mothers in the area.