As the World Breastfeeding Week ends today, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, has urged men to support their wives during pregnancy and breastfeeding to enable them breastfeed babies adequately.
Speaking during a press briefing sponsored by Save the Children International to mark the week themed, “Protect Breastfeeding: A Shared Responsibility,” Abayomi said breast milk is critical to babies’ survival, and men have roles to play, if women would practise exclusive breastfeeding and maximise its benefits.
He added that childbearing process is not easy and could be traumatic for some women, which is why support during the process is important.
“It is critical for men in Lagos to support their wives during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Mothers must not be stressed during breastfeeding and they should be provided good nutrition. Mothers should be patient while breastfeeding. It is best for the child that mothers breastfeed exclusively. Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways of ensuring child health and survival. For the first two years of life, breast milk is the best.”
Veterinary Practice Premises Get Task Force
LAGOS State government has inaugurated an 11-man task force on Veterinary Practice Premises in the state, in furtherance of its Red Meat Transformation Agenda.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Abisola Olusanya, who inaugurated the task force, when she received the working team from the Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN), explained that the task force is expected to inspect, register and license veterinary premises that meet set requirements.
She noted that government was giving greater priority to the development of red meat value chain through animal traceability, reactivation of control posts and quarantine at entry points in the state.
She pointed out that the state government had already put in place a standing committee, which derives its power from the Veterinary Premises Authority Act of 1978, to aid the smooth operation and activities of the task force.
The commissioner said so far, the registered veterinary premises figure stands at 26 Veterinary Clinics, 50 Veterinary Pharmacies, four Veterinary Ambulatory points, 22 Pet shops, six Veterinary Hospitals and two Veterinary Pharmaceutical companies, with an estimated 500 private practising veterinarians state-wide.
“Consequently, we have been able to maintain an acceptable standard of veterinary service delivery amongst private practitioners; maintain strong and growing impact on anti-quackery and sharp practices in veterinary services delivery in the state; upgrade and rehabilitate our Veterinary clinics at Ajah, Ikorodu and Badagry; equip and furnish our Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Agege with reagents, chemicals and diagnostic kits to aid the extent and scope of service at the laboratory as a referral Veterinary Laboratory; as well as procure Veterinary Ambulance/Mobile Veterinary clinic.”
The President, Veterinary Council of Nigeria, AIG (Dr.) Aishatu Baju, noted that the state was very strategic in the livestock industry in Nigeria, as it holds the highest number of private veterinary premises and related industries in the country.
Baju added that as a result of the strategic nature of the state, the provision of veterinary services needed to be properly regulated, to ensure that the state receives the best veterinary and other animal healthcare services.
END
Be the first to comment