Pauline Onyibe 
The Paramount Ruler of Okaka-Epie in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, His Royal Highness, Morrison Itelelimo Odede on Monday promised to carry the message of exclusive breastfeeding further to the society.
Speaking on Monday in Yenagoa while playing host to a Civil Society Group known as Scaling up Nutrition in Nigeria, Bayelsa State Chapter, he said that it is commendable mothers to breastfeed for six months period adding that she will communicate to the community woman leader for proper dissemination to other women.
He maintained that the exclusive breastfeeding will help the child to grow smart and intelligent.
According to him, “It is a good one that I will hand down to my people. I must hand it down to my woman leader and from there, she will take the message down to the family level.
“When information comes, we will disseminate so that the people can keep abreast of with what is going on.”
“I’m in love with your association and for what you stand for, you are going on a good mission and nobody can rate you down, the purpose of your journey is self explanatory.”
The royal father who is also the Secretary General of Epie Council of Traditional Rulers said: “the group has really done the right thing and it’s really God’s divine direction that is making them come with the message, saying they will go far.”
“From what you have said, it gives me joy to have come to remind young mothers once again to go back to the line of our fathers and grandmothers.”
“I will agree with you that yes even when I was born, there was nothing like foreign milk for new born babies that we have come to learn in this modern day. It used to go natural, even animal breastfeed their young ones and they are very strong, there is something really inside breastfeeding.”
“I see that the men side is not left out as paternity leave has been long overdue and I see it this time around coming to fruition, we will encourage the young ones to make use of the opportunity. It’s a good request and I believe government will approve it.”
“Paternity leave is good but when a woman gives birth, the onus lies on the man to provide for both mother and child because that period, the woman needs to relax, eat and get fat to replenish herself back and not to allow the woman unattended to.
“So, they need to be around the woman and the baby so that they can understudy them directly to identify their immediate needs.”
Speaking earlier, the state Coordinator, CS-SUNN, Bayelsa State, Mrs Ekinabhari Unity Ototo who led other members to the palace, said the essence of coming was to partner with with royal father for nutrition advocacy.
According to her, they are advocating for Scaling Up nutrition in Nigeria, saying heathy living of the children and the parents are very important as it will promote a productive society.
She said: “It’s good for the mother to breastfeed for exclusive six months but the system is eroding us because of certain reasons.
“That is why UNICEF is campaigning for the exclusive breastfeeding in other to have a healthy people.”
“We have also solicited for four weeks paternity leave for men in other to have chance to take care of both baby and mother.
“It’s very healthy for the mother and the child if exclusive breastfeeding is fully followed.”
