Anambra Ministry of Health, UNICEF Task Journalists on Exclusive Breastfeeding Advocacy
Health
By Tony Okafor, Awka
The Anambra State Ministry of Health and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have urged journalists to champion exclusive breastfeeding advocacy.
At the two-day zonal media dialogue for Anambra, Benue, Cross River, and Enugu journalists on exclusive breastfeeding, organized by the Anambra State Ministry of Health and UNICEF, held at Golden Tulip Hotel, Agulu Lake, Anambra State, a resource person, Prof. Stella Okunna, made the call.
She emphasized the critical role of the media in promoting breastfeeding for infants in Enugu, Benue, Cross River, and Anambra States.
Okunna, also the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Paul University, Awka, stressed that journalists possess the greatest quantity and quality of information, making them crucial in winning the “war” against breastfeeding inequalities and low prevalence.
She outlined various media strategies, including agenda setting, gatekeeping, status conferring, behavioural, and cultivation communication theories, as methods to adopt in promoting exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months.
Okunna advocated timely information to journalists to enable them to support the crusade effectively.
Dr. Ijeoma Onuoha Ogwe, Communication Officer at UNICEF Enugu Field Office, emphasized the importance of collaboration in breastfeeding advocacy.
She noted that advocacy is continuous and has set objectives, hailing the commitment and consent of the Anambra State Government in the project.
Ngozi Onuora, Nutrition Specialist, UNICEF Field Office, Enugu, discussed “Closing the gap: Breastfeeding support for all, the role of journalists.”
She tasked journalists on effective reportage of breastfeeding.
Pharm. Mrs. Chisom Uchem, Executive Secretary, Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, said, “God prepares breastfeeding for nine months from pregnancy, so there is no need for supplements.”
Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Afam Obidike, thanked UNICEF for choosing Anambra for the event.
He said that the First Lady of the state, Nonye Soludo, would have attended the event but for other exigencies.
In her welcome address, Juliet Chiluwe, Chief of UNICEF Field Office, Enugu, appreciated the policies of Anambra and its leadership.
She emphasized that the media is crucial in closing the gap, adding that breastfeeding is a human right of the child.
She stressed that the agenda must be promoted to achieve positive indices for children and society, adding, “We can’t do without the media. We hope to see positive changes.”
World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated from August 1-7 every year as a global campaign to create awareness, support, and draw attention to the health and wellbeing outcomes of breastfeeding on infants, young children, and mothers.
