The wife of Ekiti governor, Olayemi Oyebanji, has appealed to nursing mothers to prioritise exclusive breastfeeding for healthier babies.

She also encouraged nursing mothers to make themselves available for the ongoing round of immunisation at different designated centres across the state.

Mrs Oyebanji made the appeal on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti at the flag-off of the second round of year 2024 Maternal Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) week in Ekiti state.

The wife of the governor said the week was aimed at providing effective and quality basic health interventions such as maternal and childhood immunisation as well as administration of supplements to reduce child mortality.

She said the second round of free Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week, which began on Monday, would run through the week in all government health facilities and some designated places across the 16 local government areas and the 22 local council development areas.

Mrs Oyebanji explained that during the exercise, de-worming tablets and vitamin supplements would be administered to children between ages 6 and 59 months.

According to her, pregnant women will have access to HIV screening services and medicinal items such as SP Folate and other healthcare commodities.

In his remarks, the commissioner for health and human services, Oyebanji Filani, also encouraged the mothers not to shy away from getting their babies immunised.

In attendance at the flag-off were the head of service, Dr Folake Olomojibi, commissioner for women affairs and social development, Peju Babafemi, and representatives of the World Health Organisation and the United Nations Children Education Fund, among others.

(NAN)