Lagos reiterates exclusive breastfeeding as Alive and Thrive winds down campaign

The Lagos State Government has once again harped on the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding for babies.
The Deputy Director on Health Education, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Shola Hassan, made this known during a media parley in Alausa.
Hassan informed that exclusive breastfeeding for six months will ensure babies mental growth and development.
She said: “Most the challenges we face are now things of the past.
“Challenges such as some mothers believe that breast milk won’t be sufficient for babies.
“We also had issues with mother-in-laws’ insistence on how the babies be feed.
“But we are getting over some of these challenges.
“The Lagos Government in conjunction with the Alive and Thrive campaign on exclusive breastfeeding have been of tremendous help as it has created awareness for the mothers.
“We have taken the campaign to the nooks and crannies of the state through the electronic media and have also published a booklet to educate mothers and the entire family.”
Hassan added that the state through town hall meetings had educated religious, traditional leaders and other health workers.
Also at the parley, the Lagos State Ministry of Health Chief Nutrition Officer, Taiwo Fadairo, enumerated the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding.
She said aside the nutritional benefits, exclusive breastfeeding feeding creates bonding between mothers and the babies.
Fadairo urged mothers to ensure babies are fed for a least 30 minutes at once.
Meanwhile, Lagos State Technical Partners, FHI 360 Alive and Thrive, would at the end of this year wind down its campaign in the state.
Checks revealed that the general campaign activities started on November 22, 2018 and will run till the end of 2020 across the state.
Some activities of the campaign launch included media roundtable discussion on IYCF, media advocacy by members of the Lagos State Emergency Nutrition Action Plan, IYCF orientation for journalists, radio and TV jingles and an across the board engagement and training for the media.
An effective campaign management mechanism made up of competent personnel from the PHCDA, State Ministry of Health was also put in place to drive this initiative.