The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Bauchi state chapter, has called for establishment of crèches in media houses throughout the state.
The NAWOJ chairperson in the state, Mrs Bulak Afsa, made the call at a ceremony to reward three babies for having successfully completed six months’ exclusive breastfeeding in Bauchi Local Government Area.
The event was held at Miri Primary Healthcare Centre, Bauchi, on Thursday
According to her, the initiative will enable female journalists to give good care to their babies through exclusive breast feeding at their respective workplaces.
She stressed that exclusive breast feeding for newborn babies was critical to their overall development in the early stages.
While presenting award of recognition to the three babies adjudged the best at the ceremony, Afsa said that the gesture was to ensure holistic practice of exclusive breastfeeding by mothers in the state.
“We are celebrating this year with an award presentation to our mothers that fed their babies exclusively with breast milk for six months and we monitored the awardees.
“We commend our traditional and religious leaders for their support toward the success of exclusive breastfeeding in Bauchi state.
“NAWOJ also advocates timely release of funds for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health for a healthy society,” she said.
Responding on behalf of the recipients, Mrs Halima Tukur, commended the association’s initiative.
She urged all mothers to exclusively breast feed their babies in view of its immense benefits to the newborn babies in the process of their growth and development.
Tukur said that her seven months old baby girl who got exclusive breast feeding is healthier than her other three siblings who did not get the opportunity to have such kind of feeding at birth.
The New Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports other babies went home with consolation items such as wrappers, diapers, Detergents and baby accessories.