Health Writers, LASG educate Ikorodu mothers on better breastfeeding
L-R: Community Health Educator, Mrs Olajumoke Adegbola; Apex Nurse, Ikorodu West LCDA, Mrs Olufunmilayo Bickersteth; Medical Officer of Health, Ikorodu West LCDA, Dr Opeyemi Osunyomi; HEWAN President, Vivian. . .
L-R: Community Health Educator, Mrs Olajumoke Adegbola; Apex Nurse, Ikorodu West LCDA, Mrs Olufunmilayo Bickersteth; Medical Officer of Health, Ikorodu West LCDA, Dr Opeyemi Osunyomi; HEWAN President, Vivian Ihechu; Chief Nursing Officer, Majidun PHC, Mrs Janet Otah, and HEWAN Secretary, Temitope Obayendo during the outreach. As part of activities commemorating the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week, the Health Writers Association of Nigeria (HEWAN), in collaboration with the Lagos State Health District II, took the breastfeeding campaign to nursing mothers and pregnant women at Majidun Primary Healthcare Centre, Ikorodu West LCDA, on Thursday, August 6, 2026. The advocacy programme, themed “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthens What Already Works”, was designed to enlighten nursing mothers in Ikorodu on best practices in breastfeeding, including adequate maternal nutrition to promote lactation, proper positioning for mother and child’s comfort, mother-child bonding, among others. Speaking on the topic, “Optimising Maternal Nutrition for Adequate Lactation,” the Medical Officer of Health, Ikorodu West LCDA, Dr Opeyemi Osunyomi, described breastfeeding as one of the greatest gifts a mother can give her child. She explained that breast milk is the ideal source of nutrition for infants and highlighted the historical practice of wet nursing, where breastfeeding mothers nursed babies whose mothers could not breastfeed. According to her, this tradition underscores the importance of breast milk in ensuring that every child receives the best possible start in life. She stressed that colostrum, the first breast milk produced after childbirth, serves as a baby’s first natural vaccine. Rich in antibodies and essential nutrients, colostrum protects newborns against infections and diseases. She discouraged the harmful cultural practice of discarding colostrum, describing it as the most nutritious and protective form of breast milk. Dr Osunyomi explained that breastfeeding promotes a strong emotional bond between a mother and her child. “Through close physical contact, eye contact, and the familiar sound of the mother’s voice, babies develop feelings of security and attachment,” she said. While emphasising the unique mother-child bond, she also encouraged fathers to become actively involved in caring for their children from infancy to build lasting emotional relationships with them. A cross-section of nursing mothers at the sensitisation programme. She also emphasised that a mother’s nutritional status can affect her ability to breastfeed effectively. She encouraged mothers to maintain balanced diets using affordable, locally available foods rather than feeling pressured to buy expensive meals. She noted that fish, eggs, vegetables, fruits, carbohydrates and other locally sourced foods can provide the nutrients required for healthy breastfeeding when consumed in the right proportions. The Co-Founder of SheArises Foundation, Mrs Ifeoma Ibe, during an interactive session with the mothers, highlighted breastfeeding as more than a means of nourishing a baby, describing it as a powerful avenue for building emotional, physical and psychological bonds between mother and child. She explained that bonding begins during pregnancy and encouraged mothers to maintain a positive emotional environment. She stressed the importance of initiating breastfeeding immediately after birth and making each breastfeeding session an opportunity for closeness through skin-to-skin contact, eye contact, gentle touch, talking, prayer and expressions of affection. She also reiterated the recommendation for exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, noting that breast milk provides the baby with the necessary nutrients and hydration. Drawing from her personal experience, Ibe encouraged mothers to maintain a healthy, balanced diet using affordable, locally available nutritious foods to support their wellbeing and breastfeeding journey. She urged mothers not to suffer in silence when faced with breastfeeding or health challenges, but to seek support from experienced mothers, family members and healthcare professionals. In her presentation, titled “Importance of Exclusive Breastfeeding and Why It Should Continue Until Two Years,” the Chief Nursing Officer, Majidun PHC, Nurse Janet Otah, reiterated the importance of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and why breastfeeding should continue until two years and beyond. She outlined several benefits of exclusive breastfeeding for both mother and child. According to her, breastfeeding helps the mother’s uterus contract after delivery, allowing it to return to its normal size while reducing postpartum bleeding. It also lowers the risk of breast and ovarian cancers and, when practised correctly under recommended conditions, can serve as a natural method of family planning. For infants, she explained that breast milk strengthens the immune system, protects against infections and illnesses, promotes healthy growth, enhances brain and cognitive development, and fosters emotional bonding between mother and child. She added that healthy breastfed babies require fewer hospital visits, helping families reduce healthcare expenses. The Chief Nurse also urged mothers to combine breastfeeding with complete routine immunisation, describing both as essential foundations for raising healthy, intelligent and thriving children. Addressing the mothers in her keynote address, HEWAN President, Vivian Ihechu, explained the essence of the World Breastfeeding Week, which informed the association’s decision to organise the sensitisation programme for mothers. She explained that breastfeeding lowers long-term risks of breast and ovarian cancers, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, while fostering a deep emotional bond through skin-to-skin contact. “This is precisely why governments, international bodies and NGOs constantly champion breastfeeding. It is a powerful public health strategy that reduces infant mortality, cuts family medical bills, and builds a healthier, stronger nation,” she stated. Leading a practical session to demonstrate proper positioning during breastfeeding, the Apex Nurse, Ikorodu West LCDA, Mrs Olufunmilayo Bickersteth, underscored the importance of proper positioning and latching for the comfort of both babies and mothers. She explained that an infant may bite the mother’s nipple due to poor positioning while sucking, as this could be the only way of expressing discomfort. According to the Apex Nurse, positioning in breastfeeding refers to how a mother and her baby’s bodies are arranged during a feed. It plays a huge role in ensuring safe and comfortable breastfeeding for both mother and baby. Good positioning, she said, helps prevent sore or cracked nipples caused by a shallow latch, poor milk transfer, gassiness or colic from swallowing too much air, and aspiration resulting from poor head and neck support. “Good positioning also ensures good airway so that baby’s nose and mouth are free to breathe easily. It prevents choking since the head is raised slightly higher than the body to help milk flow down safely,” she asserted. The high point of the advocacy outreach was the distribution of baby items, including Smuthex, a diaper rash cream donated by Reals Pharmaceuticals in support of the programme.