Wife of Rivers State Governor, Justice Eberechi Suzzette Wike has launched the Breastfeeding Collective in Port Harcourt.
The Global Breastfeeding Collective campaign brings together implementers and donors from governments, philanthropies, international organizations, civil society and is led by UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Justice Wike stated that the campaign should be followed rigorously to ensure that breastfeeding mothers in Rivers State understand the importance of breastfeeding, especially exclusive breastfeeding in the lives of their children.
She maintained that the campaign is timely and will help give children a healthy lifestyle and upbringing.
The Initiative’s vision is a world in which all mothers have the technical; financial; emotional; and public support they need to start breastfeeding within an hour of a child’s birth, to breastfeed exclusively for six months, and to continue breastfeeding—with complementary foods—for two years or beyond.
The Initiative’s mission is to rally political; legal; financial; and public support, so rates of breastfeeding increase, which will benefit mothers, children, and society.
The Global Breastfeeding Collective has three strategic goals:
Foster leadership and alliances and effectively integrate and communicate breastfeeding messages.
Mobilize resources and promote accountability.
Build knowledge and evidence to enhance breastfeeding policies, programmes, financing and communication.
Representatives of the World Health Organisation, FIDA, and many donor organizations graced the occasion.
