The birth of healthy twins at the Primary Health Care (PHC) Centre, Ikot Ansa, Calabar, on Sunday night provided a fitting highlight to the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week celebration, highlighting the importance of early breastfeeding in giving newborns the healthiest possible start to life.
At exactly 9:15 p.m., Mrs. Chinyere Okafor arrived at the facility in active labour. Barely an hour later, she safely delivered a baby boy and a baby girl through the coordinated efforts of skilled midwives, turning an ordinary night shift into a celebration of life and quality maternal healthcare.
Moments after delivery, the twins were placed in their mother’s arms and breastfed, demonstrating the early initiation of breastfeeding, a practice health experts recommend within the first hour of birth to enable newborns receive colostrum, the nutrient-rich first milk that strengthens immunity and protects against infections.
Speaking after the delivery, the Officer-in-Charge of PHC Ikot Ansa, Mrs. Patience Rolland Bassey, described the birth as a timely reminder of the critical role breastfeeding plays in improving child survival and reducing infant mortality.
She recalled receiving news of the delivery while attending a church service and immediately proceeded to the health facility to witness the successful birth.
“As we celebrate World Breastfeeding Week, there could not have been a better reminder of why our work matters. Seeing healthy twins breastfed almost immediately after birth reinforces the importance of giving every child the best possible start in life. Breastfeeding remains one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce infant illnesses and deaths,” she said.
Mrs. Bassey commended the dedication of the healthcare team and appreciated media practitioners for helping amplify awareness on breastfeeding, noting that sustained public education would encourage more mothers to embrace exclusive breastfeeding.
For the new parents, Mr. Dennis Abe and Mrs. Chinyere Okafor, the arrival of the twins brought immense joy and gratitude despite the financial responsibilities of raising two newborns simultaneously.
The couple thanked God for a safe delivery and praised the professionalism, compassion and commitment of the midwives, describing them as “angels” whose expertise ensured a smooth and complication-free childbirth.
Mrs. Okafor said the counselling she received before and after delivery deepened her understanding of exclusive breastfeeding and its importance to the healthy growth and development of her babies.
“The nurses encouraged me to breastfeed my babies immediately after birth and explained why they should receive only breast milk for the first six months. They also taught me the correct way to breastfeed and assured me that breast milk contains all the nutrients my babies need during that period,” she said.
Healthcare professionals explained that exclusive breastfeeding involves feeding infants only breast milk for the first six months of life, without water, herbal mixtures or other foods, except prescribed medicines where necessary. The practice provides complete nutrition, protects babies against diarrhoea, pneumonia and other childhood illnesses, supports brain development and strengthens the bond between mother and child.
One of the attending midwives, Ms. Akpagu Mary Ubelebi, attributed the successful delivery to skilled birth attendance and regular antenatal care, urging expectant mothers to register early for antenatal services, attend routine medical check-ups and undergo recommended ultrasound scans to detect possible complications before delivery.
She also encouraged nursing mothers to exclusively breastfeed for the first six months and continue breastfeeding alongside appropriate complementary feeding thereafter, describing the practice as one of the most effective and affordable interventions for reducing infant mortality.
According to her, the twins received immediate postnatal care, including routine newborn assessment and essential immunisation in line with national healthcare guidelines.
The delivery was conducted by a team of dedicated midwives comprising Ms. Akpagu Mary Ubelebi, Ms. Amgbeye Mary Umaye and Iti Catherine Atoshi, whose professionalism ensured the safety and wellbeing of both mother and babies.
As the world marks the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week, health experts continue to emphasise that breastfeeding is more than a feeding practice, it is a proven public health intervention that saves lives, improves childhood nutrition and lays the foundation for healthier communities.
For the staff of PHC Ikot Ansa, the birth of the twins was more than a memorable delivery; it was a powerful reminder that with skilled healthcare, informed mothers and supportive communities, every child can be given the best possible start in life.
By Ibu Harrywills
