REPORTER: EMEFIENA OKONKWO
Many commertcial Bus drivers under the aegis of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Enugu State Chapter, have been adopted as UNICEF Breastfeeding Ambassadors to enhance advocacy and promotion of exclusive breastfeeding in Enugu state and beyond.
These commercial mini- buses plying Enugu metropolitan now carry banners branded with key UNIICEF messages encouraging Exlusive /Breastfeeding on their vehicles’ back windscreen.
Some of these key messages read, “Breastfeeding is more than feeding a child”. Breastfeeding promotes healthy brains, strong bodies and brighter future”.
Speaking during the event which took place at New Haven primary school, Enugu, the Nutrition Specialist, United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, Enugu Field Office, Mrs Ngozi Onuora encouraged the drivers to assist their wives and other nursing mothers by providing comfort rooms in their motor parks, where nursing mothers can breastfeed their babies in comfort.
Mrs Onuora explained to the drivers and others that attended the event that breastfeeding significantly reduces the cost of feeding the babies as breastfeeding cost nothing, only requiring that that the nursing mother feed well for adequate breastmilk for the baby.
Also speaking during the event, the Communications Officer, UNICEF, Enugu Field Office, Dr Ijeoma Onuoha-Ogwe noted that that exclusive breastfeeding helps the baby develop immunity against certain diseases.
She also noted that breastfeeding is environmentally friendly and doesn’t involve littering of environment.
Dr Onuoha-Ogwe restated the commitment of UNICEF to the overall well-being, protection and development of children and women in the country.
In another keynote address the Enugu State Nutrition Officer, SNO, Mrs Loveth Onwuzulike noted that the sensitization is part of UNICEF/Enugu State Government’s collaboration, with sponsorship from the United States Government, Bill Gates Foundation and Vitamin Angels towards fighting malnutrition and diseases among babies in the state
Mrs Onwuzulike who represented the Executive Secretary, Enugu State Primary Healthcare Development Agency on the occasion, stated that promoting of breastfeeding is not the responsibility of mothers alone as it requires the committment of fathers ,Employers of labour, health workers, policymakers and indeed every member of society.
She equally stated that the breast milk is the exclusive reserve of the new born and urged the men to stay away from it throughout the period.
