In a powerful advocacy move, the wife of the Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, has underscored foundational pillars of child health, urging a committed embrace of practices proven to save lives and foster robust development. Her message, delivered during a visit to the Basic Health Centre in Asin-Ekiti, transcends a simple public appeal, offering a crucial framework for community and parental action.
Dr. Oyebanji’s call to action focuses on three critical, evidence-based interventions:
1. The Lifeline of Exclusive Breastfeeding
Describing it as critical to child survival, Dr. Oyebanji advocated for exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. This practice is far more than nutrition; it is a child’s first vaccine. Breast milk provides perfect nutrition and transfers essential antibodies from mother to child, drastically reducing the risk of deadly infections like pneumonia and diarrhoea. For the mother, it lowers the risk of breast and ovarian cancers. The governor’s wife’s warning against ignoring these guidelines highlights a stark reality: suboptimal breastfeeding is associated with over 800,000 child deaths globally each year, a tragedy preventable through education and support.
2. The Shield of Complete Immunisation
Complementing breastfeeding, Dr. Oyebanji stressed the non-negotiable importance of completing the childhood immunisation schedule. Vaccines train a child’s immune system to recognise and combat serious diseases like measles, polio, and whooping cough. Each vaccine dose is a layer of armour. When communities achieve high vaccination coverage, they create ‘herd immunity,’ protecting those who are too young or too sick to be vaccinated themselves. Her admonition serves as a reminder that the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases often traces back to gaps in this vital protective shield.
3. Rejecting Harmful Practices: The Stance Against FGM
In a significant inclusion, the governor’s wife explicitly urged mothers to shun Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). This positions child health within a broader context of bodily autonomy and safety. FGM has no health benefits and inflicts severe physical and psychological trauma, complicating childbirth later in life. By condemning this practice alongside breastfeeding and immunisation, the message champions a child’s right to holistic wellbeing—free from both disease and harmful traditional practices.
The context of this advocacy—a visit to celebrate the first baby of 2026, a healthy girl born at 12:05 a.m. weighing 2.5kg—provided a powerful symbol of hope and a tangible starting point. The presentation of essential gifts (food, diapers, clothing, and cash) to the newborn’s mother, Mrs. Esther Olarenwaju, models practical support, acknowledging that advice must be coupled with assistance to alleviate the economic pressures families face.
Dr. Oyebanji’s broader outreach, including visits to children’s and correctional centres with donations, reinforces that building a healthy society requires inclusivity and care for all its vulnerable members. Her advice to instill good values and discipline in children connects physical health to moral development, envisioning a future generation that is both healthy and responsible.
This initiative, supported by the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Peju Babafemi, and other officials, represents more than a ceremonial visit. It is a coordinated effort to place maternal and child health at the forefront of community discourse. The ultimate takeaway is a holistic prescription: protect children with science-backed medical practices, nurture them with unwavering support and sound values, and safeguard their futures by unequivocally rejecting harmful traditions. The survival and thriving of Ekiti’s children, as Dr. Oyebanji makes clear, depend on this multifaceted commitment.
Reported by Bolanle Lawal for the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
