Twelve African countries will be represented at the Breastfeeding Competition of this year's 5th African International Babycare and Mothercare Pre-Xmas Festival holding at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, next month, the Executive Director, AFRIBABY INITIAVE, Mrs. Olayinka Odiboh, has said.

The countries are: South Africa, Ghana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia, Tunisia, Morocco, Kenya, Uganda and Nigeria.

Odiboh who made the revelation while briefing the Chairman of AFRIBABY Initiative, Sir Chief (Dr.) Molade Okoya-Thomas, and other members of the Board of Trustees of the NGO on the programme of event, said the representation of all African countries at Abuja AFRIBABY Festival is to justify the NGO's continental objectives of promoting everything that is associated with babycare with reference to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of reducing infant mortality in Africa by 2015.

She said apart from the breastfeeding contest, the Federal Road Safety Corps(FRSC), will be on hand to demonstrate to breastfeeding mothers, the steps to take in ensuring the safety of their babies while driving in public transportation or in emergency traffic situations.

The expo will also feature nannies' training and a symposium entitled; "Six Months Maternity Leave: In whose Interest?" to be moderated by professional paediatricians, nutritionists and other specialists in the field of babycare.

The symposium, according to Odiboh, is dedicated to the late President of the Grassroots Association of Nigeria, Chief (Dr.) Mrs. Jummai Aduda, who was also the Patron of AFRIBABY.