Yobe state government said it has commenced statewide sensitization of mothers on exclusive breastfeeding to reduce malnutrition among children in the state.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Baba Malam Wali noted that the advocacy is to demonstrate government’s commitment toward combating high rate of malnutrition and other negative indices to improve health status of Yobe children.

Exclusive breastfeeding would prevent hunger and malnutrition in all its forms and ensure food security for babies even in time of crisis.

“It’s one of the best investments in saving lives and improving the health, social and economic development of individuals and nations”, he said.

He said that government had designed and implemented numerous income generating activities to strengthen women’s economic power across the state.

Wali assured the willingness of Governor Mai Mala’s administration to partner and support any initiative by Non-governmental organisations and private sector for general improvement of breastfeeding mothers and husbands through policy direction and interventions.

Earlier, the Executive secretary, Yobe State Primary Healthcare Board, Mohammed Lawan Gana, said that one of the best strategies to ensure healthy children is to exclusively breastfeed them.

He said the state government had been implementing policies and programs in that direction to ensure women exclusively breastfeed their children within the first 30 minutes of delivery to six months of life.