Agency sets to support Bauchi state on safe breastfeeding space

Mrs Philomena Orji, Representative of the U.S. Agency for International Development  (USAID), has reiterated the agency’s commitment toward providing safe space for working mothers in Bauchi State. Orji made the pledge at the launch of the 2023 World Breastfeeding Week (WBW), organised by the state’s Primary Healthcare Development Agency, in collaboration with USAID-Integrated Health Program (IHP) in Bauchi on Wednesday.

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World Breastfeeding Week is an annual celebration held from Aug. 1 to Aug. 7 to raise awareness about the benefits of breastfeeding to nursing mothers, babies, families, societies and nations. The week-long event is celebrated in more than 120 countries and has “Let’s Make Breastfeeding and Work, Work” as the theme for 2023.

The USAID representative, therefore, said access to safe space would provide avenue for working mothers to commit and contribute in
productive workforce of the state and to reduce the burden of childhood diseases.

She added that, “USAID remains committed to supporting the Bauchi State Government provide safe space for working class mothers. Providing breast milk to children in line with best practices is a way for our babies and productive workforce of the future.”

The wife of the Bauchi State Governor, Dr Aisha Mohammed, however, encouraged breastfeeding mothers to remain steadfast in adopting global health practices that would prevent childhood diseases. She also encouraged women to embrace backyard farming to access varieties of food items for human development.

Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, the Executive Chairman, Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (BSPHCDA), noted that the state would continue to develop programmes that would showcase the nutritional and health benefits of breastfeeding.

Wumi/NAN