Wife of Anambra State Governor, Dr. Nonye Soludo has cautioned mothers against discouraging their daughters from exclusively breastfeeding their babies without water.
She stressed the importance of breastfeeding babies without water, saying such exclusives encouraged bonding between the mother and the child.
Mrs. Soludo spoke in Awka at the first August Women Health Conference organised by Ministry of Health in collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO).
She revealed that all her six children underwent exclusive breastfeeding, saying she had no regrets over the decision.
She said, “Some mothers who visit their daughters for omugwo (baby sitting) insist they give water to their babies undergoing exclusive breastfeeding.
“I know they do so out of ignorance, not realizing that the breast contains enough water the child needs for his/her growth and development.”
Mrs. Soludo further urged women to give birth to children they could take care of, saying producing children without catering for them would amount to wickedness.
“If you’re not ready to take care of the children, needless producing the innocent children to subject them to untold hardship.
“Can you engage children of 7 to 9 years you suppose to train properly to a woman who will end up teaching her wickedness and suffering?” she queried.
Assistant Public Health Officer, WHO, Mrs. Uju Ojiagwu, described mothers as critical stakeholders in health matters, urging them to insist on routine childhood vaccination to protect their children against diseases and secure their health.
She however regretted the number of unimmunized children in the state, just as she revealed that only 45 per cent of resident in the state were vaccinated against Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19).
She said the 45 percent vaccination coverage in the state was low as the state was yet to meet the 100 per cent targeted population for the COVID-19 vaccination.
“The fight against COVID-19 is not over which is why the COVID-19 vaccines have become routine vaccines that help protect us against the deadly virus.
“Also, there are many unimmunized children in the state as mothers do not take their children to the health centres for vaccination,” she said.
Earlier, Commissioner for Health Dr Afam Obidike said appreciated the Wife of the Governor for taking up health interventions for women and children as her pet project.
He said no fewer than 4,760 women have been screened so far, under the free cervical cancer screening, while 91 were infected and scheduled for treatment.
“Rota virus vaccine which cost N9, 000 has been made free in the state, free cleft lip and palate surgery is ongoing and in partnership with UNICEF, she facilitated distribution of Mama kits for pregnant women,” he said.
