Enugu State Nutritionist assistant lecturing pregnant women at Holy Child Mother of Christ Hospital,Enugu, on the essence of exclusive breastfeeding.
From Maurice Okafor, Enugu
Some pregnant women and nursing mothers at Mother of Christ Hospital, Holy Ghost, Enugu, were on Tuesday, August 4, convinced to imbibe exclusive breastfeeding culture as the best for healthy growth of their babies and themselves.
Their enlightenment was part of the advocacy in selected Enugu state communities and the metropolis to mark the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week, sponsored by UNICEF in partnership with Child Nutrition Fund(CNF), United States Mission, Nigeria and Enugu state government.
On the mandate of UNICEF Field Office Enugu, the duo of Mrs Nwobodo Obiageli Ada, the Assistant State Nutrition Officer,Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency and Comrade Maurice Okafor, one of UNIICEF media representative got the hint that the pregnant women would come for their antenatal and routine physical exercise within the hospital on that particular date.
Acting on the mandate of the UNICEF Field Office, Enugu, the Assistant State Nutrition Officer at the Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Mrs. Nwobodo Obiageli Ada, alongside UNICEF media representative, Comrade Maurice Okafor, visited the hospital after learning that expectant mothers would be attending their antenatal clinic and routine physical exercise on Tuesday, August 4.
Following approval from the hospital’s Matron, Mrs. Pauline Mbanefo, an interactive session was held with the pregnant women shortly after their exercise.
Addressing the participants, Mrs. Nwobodo highlighted the theme of the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week, “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works.”
She stressed the importance of feeding newborns exclusively with breast milk for the first six months of life, after which complementary foods rich in essential nutrients should be introduced while breastfeeding continues through the child’s first 1,000 days.
She explained that exclusive breastfeeding strengthens a baby’s immune system, reduces the risk of contracting diseases and supports healthy brain development as well as the proper functioning of other body systems.
During the interactive session, one of the expectant mothers, who pleaded not to be named, recounted that her breast milk did not begin to flow until two days after she delivered her first child.
Another participant complained of suffering cracked nipples while breastfeeding her baby.
Responding, the Matron of Mother of Christ Babiless Hospital, Mrs. Pauline Mbanefo, said pregnant women attending the facility are routinely advised to begin gently massaging their breasts from the eighth month of pregnancy to help the nipples develop properly before delivery.
She added that in very difficult, though rare, cases, the hospital uses a string-assisted technique to gently draw out the nipple and stimulate the flow of breast milk to enable the newborn to breastfeed effectively
