The wife of the Sole Administrator of Andoni Local Government of Rivers State, Prof. Amiye Francis, has advocated for home gardens as a means to ensure a steady food supply for nursing mothers.

To commemorate this year’s Breastfeeding Week, Prof. Amiye distributed seedlings to breastfeeding mothers in Andoni, aiming to promote a sustainable food supply and encourage exclusive breastfeeding for six months.

She explained that home gardening can provide fresh produce for nursing mothers, reducing the financial burden of buying food.

“We are going to support the project of home gardening, plant something at the back of your house, around your house,” she said. “We are going to distribute seeds that you will plant.”

At an event held at the Council’s Secretariat in Ngo Town, Prof. Amiye emphasised the importance of breastfeeding and the need for a sustainable support system to make it profitable.

The seedlings distributed to breastfeeding mothers included a variety of vegetables and fruits, such as pepper, tomatoes, watermelon, and cucumber. These seedlings are expected to help nursing mothers start their home gardens and promote sustainable food production.

She stressed that breastfeeding is crucial for the health and well-being of babies, and that exclusive breastfeeding for six months is essential. “For the first six months of your baby’s life, the only thing that baby needs to be healthy is breastmilk,” she said. “Do not give water. The baby has enough water in the breastmilk.”

Prof. Amiye highlighted the benefits of home gardening, including reduced food costs and increased access to fresh produce. She also encouraged mothers to utilise the available space in their homes to plant and grow their food. “When you eat your yam, do not throw away the head,” she said. “Use it to plant and grow your own food.”

Prof. Francis recommended that nursing mothers plant crops like yam, potato, plantain, and pepper in containers or backyards, to promote self-reliance and healthy eating habits.

On his part, the Medical Officer of Health, Andoni Local Government Area, Dr. Mbaba Mbatumu, emphasised the significance of breastfeeding in preventing health-related sickness like type 2 diabetes, respiratory infections, and obesity in infants.

Dr. Mbatumu also highlighted the benefits of breastfeeding, including its cost-effectiveness and the bonding it fosters between mother and child, and encouraged mothers to breastfeed exclusively, emphasising that “breast milk is essential for infant nutrition and healthy growth.”

To sustain breastfeeding, the health expert advocated for the formation of support groups and encouraged communities to make breastfeeding a norm.

Mbatumu also noted that the focus of this year’s theme is on the critical role breastfeeding plays in creating a sustainable environment and mitigating the impacts of climate change.

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting breastfeeding practices, in line with WHO and UNICEF recommendations, which include early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, and continued breastfeeding up to two years or beyond

Responding on behalf of other beneficiaries, Zilla Goodness expressed gratitude to the wife of the Andoni Sole Administrator, Prof Amiye Francis, for spearheading the program, which she noted has not only equipped them with knowledge on breastfeeding techniques but also empowered them to care for their babies.

World Breastfeeding Week, observed annually in the first week of August, had as its theme ‘Prioritise Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support System’.