Wife of the chairman of Toto Local Government Area in Nasarawa State, Hajiya Rakiya Dauda, has advised nursing mothers to exclusively breastfeed their children.
She gave the advice during a sensitization campaign in Kofa town in Toto, stressing that breastfeeding promotes better health for mothers and children alike.
“Breastfeeding of a child is the best way to provide ideal food for healthy growth and development of infants,’’ she said.
She described breast milk as the first natural food for babies, adding that it provides all the energy and nutrients that the infant needs for the critical months of life.
Hajiya Rakiya distributed diapers and other items to nursing mothers in the locality, where she explained that “nutritious complementary foods should then be added while continuing to breastfeed for up to two years or beyond.’’
She said it is recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that exclusive breastfeeding starts within one hour after birth until a baby is six months old.
The event was attended by health personnel and women in the area.
