Dr. Falmata Babagana Zulum, the governor of Borno State's wife, has encouraged community and religious leaders to assist women in getting to health facilities due to the alarmingly high percentage of home births in the state.
She spoke on Tuesday in Maiduguri as the campaign for World Breastfeeding Week, with the theme "Let's Step Up For Breastfeeding," got underway.
She claimed that the goal of the campaign was to end the practise of having babies delivered at home in the state.
The governor's wife, who was represented by the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Zuwaira Gambo, said that the practise denied women's access to options for counselling, education, and medical treatment.
“As there remains a significant proportion of home deliveries, mothers and infants need support and care from family to initiate and continue breastfeeding. In addition, they need support from religious and community leaders, health systems, workplaces and government to breastfeed for as long as they desire,” she said.
Samuel Sesay, the Chief of Maiduguri Field Office for United Nations Children's Education Funds (UNICEF), stated at the occasion that exclusive breastfeeding was crucial to controlling the twin problems of malnutrition and food insecurity as well as promoting healthy infant development.
Dr. Pindal Wakawa, WHO's nutrition and physical activity officer, emphasised the need of law and education for the welfare of children.