- World Breastfeeding Week, celebrated annually from August 1-7, aims to raise awareness about the importance of breastfeeding
The Lagos State Special Adviser on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, has encouraged nursing mothers to breastfeed their babies in public without shame, advising the use of breast covers for privacy.
Speaking at a press briefing for the upcoming 2024 World Breastfeeding Week, Ogunyemi highlighted breastfeeding as an economical and environmentally safe way to nourish babies.
World Breastfeeding Week, celebrated annually from August 1-7, aims to raise awareness about the importance of breastfeeding. The World Health Organisation and UNICEF recommend starting breastfeeding within the first hour of birth and exclusively breastfeeding for the first six months to ensure optimal growth and development.
Ogunyemi noted that breastfeeding, especially colostrum, protects infants from childhood diseases and promotes appropriate adult behavior. She announced that Lagos State will join the national campaign, mobilizing over 36,000 women to breastfeed publicly at midday during the week.
The 2024 theme, “Closing the Gap, Breastfeeding Support for All,” calls for comprehensive support from all stakeholders, including family, community, and employers, to promote exclusive breastfeeding and combat social stigma. Ogunyemi also emphasized ongoing state initiatives to improve maternal and child health, including free antenatal and postnatal care and nutrition education for nursing mothers.