The Oyo State Government has indicated its readiness to resuscitate the moribund Breastfeeding Centre, to encourage breastfeeding and nutritional uptake of children.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mrs Toyin Balogun, stated this during her tour of all government facilities within and outside the metropolis, under the supervision of her Ministry.
During the tour, which commenced with a visitation to the Breastfeeding Center and the State Family Court, Balogun said it was scientifically proved that children who are breastfed in the early stages of life develop better mental acuity.
She noted that, “The immune system of breastfed children are better developed to cope with health challenges which manifest early on or even later on in the life span of the individual, disclosing that the Breastfeeding Centre would be renovated and upscaled to improve on its internal and external ambience, with the support of developmental partners.”
The Commissioner stated that part of the mandate of the Centre would be to create awareness on the best possible weaning practices to ensure that children are eased on to solid adult food in line with international best practices
Expressing bewilderment at the deplorable state of the facility, which presently constitutes both health and safety hazard, Balogun stressed that as much as resources allow, the government was committed to resuscitation of as many moribund outreaches/assets of the ministry as possible.
She noted that the driving motivation of the Governor Seyi Makinde-led administration is to improve on the quality of life of all citizens of the state, inclusive of women, youth and children, who are the future of tomorrow, and the society at large.
Corroborating the concerns expressed by the commissioner, the Matron of the Breastfeeding Centre, Mrs Esther Oladejo, said there is need for prompt intervention in order to make the Centre habitable for the expected influx of children in view of the next academic session.
Reacting, the Commissioner said the Centre was strategically situated to cater to the children of both civil servants and non civil servants clientele.
She asserted that renovating and improving the ambience of the Centre would encourage all the parents who had taken their wards to creches located far away, thus impacting negatively on time spent away from their desks and duties at the Secretariat (for civil servants who are nursing mothers), to return.
The commissioner’s entourage included the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mrs Dolapo Popoola, some directors and staff of the ministry.
