Men have been advised to keep away from their wives’ breasts while
they are breastfeeding their children to avoid inflicting wounds on the
breasts and exposing the children to infection.
Professor Angela Oyo Ita, the Cross River State Commissioner for
Health, who gave the advice while flagging-off the 2013 Breast Feeding
Week at Akpabuyo local Government Area of the state, said
that men sharing their wives’ breasts while they are breast feeding
could inflict wound on the breasts and if the woman is HIV positive, the
child could be exposed to the infection.
Professor Oyo Ita who was represented by the Director Nutrition of
the Ministry of Health, Mrs Regina Adie called on the women to practice
exclusive breast feeding because it has been proven that beast milk
contains 80% water and 20% minerals that are essential for the child’s
growth.
“The World Health Organisation, the United Nation International
Children Educational Fund, and other renown world agencies have carried
out studies and it has proven that breast milk is the best in keeping
the child healthy, strong and happy.”
She said myths that a child that is exclusively fed on breast milk
for six months would at some point die out of thirst is not true because
beast milk contains enough water to keep the child happy and satisfied.
“Some time ago, we came here and had a meeting with the men and called
on them to support their wives to carry out exclusive breast feeding
for their children and the men said no because the children would die
from the thirst for water, but that is not true.”
The Health Commissioner said the theme for this year’s breast feeding
week. “Breast Feeding, Close to Mother”, was apt because the
relationship between the mother and the child becomes stronger when the
mother breast feeds the baby exclusively for six months.
“If you look at the face of your baby during breast feeding, you
would see joy and satisfaction on the face and that brings the child
closer to the mother.”
Mrs Rosemary Effiong, the Chairman of Akpabuyo Local Government Area
said breast feeding keeps children strong and free of health challenges
and “we in Akpabuyo do not want to have children who would put
unnecessary pressure on our health facilities, so let every mother
listen and obey the instruction of the focal person on breast feeding.”
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