The Coordinator, Office of the First Lady of Akwa Ibom State, Lady Helen Eno Obareki, says no woman should die during childbirth and every child should have a healthy start to life.
Speaking through the Special Assistant to the Governor on General Duties, Mrs Ann Abraham, during medical missions to mark the 2025 World Breastfeeding Week at Odot, Nsit Atai Local Government Area, Lady Eno-Obareki said this is possible by strengthening local health systems and enhancing the wellbeing of mothers and their children.
“We are here to ensure that no woman dies during childbirth and that every child has a healthy start. The turnout shows that communities are eager for accessible and quality healthcare. This is at the core of what we do at Golden Initiative for All, GIFA, through our Maternal and Child Healthcare Thematic Area.”
Lady Eno-Obareki urged participants from the ten wards of the Local Government Area, to adhere to the instructions of the health professionals who had provided them with health talks on hygiene and nutrition for their babies, with the aim to reduce the spate of illnesses and malnutrition, enhance benefits of exclusive breastfeeding, as well as highlight the importance of regular antenatal care by pregnant women.
The Executive Director of the Carelife Character Foundation, Dr Aniekeme George, thanked Lady Obareki and other partners for their commitment to the project which has empowered pregnant women in rural communities with information and delivery kits.
He assured participants and stakeholders that identified gaps in all the Local Government Areas serviced by the project will be addressed to ensure that subsequent breastfeeding week projects in the state, will contribute to the health policies of the Akwa Ibom State Government.
During the outreach which held at the model Primary Health Center Odot, a team of medical professionals, volunteers and community health workers provided free healthcare services, ranging from maternal and child health, to safe delivery and preventive care.
High point of the ceremony was the presentation of maternity kits provided by GIFA to expectant and nursing mothers, to encourage them to exclusively breastfeed their babies.
The 2025 Breastfeeding activities in Akwa Ibom State, targeted at ensuring that maternal and child healthcare is taken closer to those who need it the most, witnessed an impressive turnout of women and children under 5 years, who received free medical consultations and essential medications, antenatal check-ups, ultrasound scans, immunizations, family planning services and birth registrations.
