By John Ighodaro
CALABAR — Chair-man of Ogoja Local Government Area in Cross River State, Mr. Joe Eweh, has called on mothers to breast feed their babies exclusively with breast milk for the first six months of the babies lives, without even water, saying research had shown that infants digest breast milk better than the formula or any other food.
He spoke while rounding off activities marking the World Breastfeeding Week in Ogoja, which drew mothers from all parts of the council.

According to him, “the importance of exclusive breastfeeding cannot be overemphasised. In a nutshell, as researches have shown, infants digest breast milk better than the formula or any other food, and children fed on breast milk only (without water) in the first six months of their lives,  have a stronger immune system and ability to resist or fight infections of different categories.

It is in recognition of this that the World Health Organisation, WHO,  in 2001 advised strongly that children should be breast-fed exclusively between the first four and six months of their lives.”

“The exclusive breastfeeding method is convenient, safe and friendly, which explains why this method is referred to as the Baby Friendly Way.”

There are also emotional benefits and the physical bonding between mother and child derivable from this method, which makes the child comfortable and secure.”

Also speaking, the Director, Primary Health Care and Disease Control, Dr. John Odok, who was represented by Mrs. Rose Nnyambi called on mothers to “give new born infants no food or drink other than breast milk, unless medically indicated.”

He also said that mothers should practise “rooming-in, which allows mothers and infants to remain together 24 hours a day.”

On the occasion, the first lady of Cross River State,  Mrs. Obioma Liyel Imoke, who was represented by the wife of the Deputy Governor of the state, Mrs. Gloria Cobham, admonished the mothers, who were present, saying: “let it not be that it is only here that you feed your baby. Breast milk is very important to a child.

You cannot compare a child that is given powder milk to the one that is given breast milk.”

He also said that mothers should practice “rooming_in, which allows mothers and infants to remain together 24 hours a day.”

On the occasion, the first lady of Cross River State,  Mrs. Obioma Liyel Imoke, who was represented by the wife of the Deputy Governor of the state, Mrs. Gloria Cobham admonished the mothers, who were present, saying “let it not be that it is only here that you feed your baby.

Breast milk is very important to a child. You cannot compare a child that is given powdered milk to the one that is given breast milk.”