Governors’ wives, stakeholders seek 6 months maternity leave policy

The Nigerian Governors’ Wives Forum (NGWF) and other stakeholders on Tuesday called for the implementation of a six-month maternity leavepolicy to facilitate exclusive breastfeeding of infants in the country.

Dr. Olufolake Abdulrazak, wife of the Kwara state governor, representing the NGWF,stated this during the launch and press briefing ceremony in commemoration of the 2023 World Breastfeeding Week organised by the Federal Ministry of Health and other partners in Abuja.

The theme for this year’s celebration is “Enabling Breastfeeding: Making a Difference for Working Parents.’’

Mrs. Abdulrazak said the forum will partner with others to champion advocacy, which will improve the health and wellbeing of the mother and child as well as eliminate malnutrition in the country, thereby reducing child mortality rates.

She noted the challenges mothers face in navigating their work schedule and providing the best care for their children, stressing the need for the implementation of policies that will ensure babies are exclusively breastfed for the first six months and complementary fed for at least two years.

“Breastfeeding plays an integral role in the healthy development of infants, and we must all come together to create an enabling environment that supports and encourages this natural practise.

“In the NGWF, we arewholeheartedly dedicated to championing the cause of breastfeeding and improving the lives of women and children across our nation.

“We are proud to announce that we have taken a significant step forward by signing a statement of commitment to provide support through effective advocacy for improved nutrition in the country.’’

While advocating for realistic budgeting and timely release of funds for nutrition, she said the NWGF was committed to creating awareness about the importance of exclusive breastfeeding, the establishment of creches in workspaces, and six months of paid maternity leave.

On the issue of the prevalence of malaria, she disclosed that Kwara State went down to 20 percent, which was lower than the 26 percent at the national average level.

Dr. Nemat Hajeebhoy, UNICEF’s Chief Nutrition Officer, said a child’s development is not completed at birth, but rather breastmilk facilitates the completion of the development, especially the brain.

Hajeebhoy added that the Convention on Child Rights stipulates their rights to access to adequate nutrition, which begins at birth within the first hour of breastfeeding, which is essential as the first immunisation.

“It is the act of breastfeeding and the breast milk that enable the growth of babies. The child’s developmentis not completed at birth; it is the breastmilk that helps with its completion, especially in brain development.

“So enabling mothers and babies to be together once the child is born and is no longer in her womb is each of our responsibility,’’ she said.

She explained that Nigeria has over 18 million employed women, but only nine percent of the organisations offer breastfeeding support, hence the need for employers to implement policies that promote breastfeeding.

“We are asking employers to offer six months of maternity leave, set up safe spaces in the offices so that a mother can go and breastfeed her child, and offer some flexible working arrangements.’’

Also, Dr. Walter Mulombo, Country Representative, World Health Organisation (WHO), said the 2023 WBW theme aims to raise awareness and galvanise action that enables breastfeeding in the workplace.

“Enabling breastfeeding and supporting working parents is crucial for promoting optimum breastfeeding practises and ensuring the health and wellbeing of both infants and mothers.

“Support for breastfeeding increases women’s work motivation, attendance, satisfaction, and productivity.

“It also provides vital health and nutritional benefits for children with positive lifelong impacts. Women shouldn’t be left to choose between breastfeeding their children and their jobs,’’ he said.

Dr. Osita Okonkwo, Country Director, Nutrition International, said the organisation, with support from partners, distributed over 20 million vitamin A tablets across states in 2022 and has earmarked over 22 million to improve nutrition and reduce the prevalence of child and maternal mortality.

Mr. Adebiyi Folorunsho, Permanent Secretary, FMoH, while highlighting the benefits of breastfeeding, said only nine percent of organisations in the country have a workplace breastfeeding policy.

Folurunsho, represented by Mrs. Boladale Alonge, Director in the ministry, said breastfeeding provides energy and nutrients for a child’s development and prevents the burden of malnutrition, infectious diseases, and mortality, while also reducing the risk of obesity and chronic diseases in later life.

He added that breastfeeding mothers are also protected from chronic diseases, including breast and ovarian cancer and Type 2 diabetes, as well as increase productivity at the workplace and save on monetary expenses.

“`Evidence has shown that women need adequate time and support to practise optimal breastfeeding. Lack of support in the workplace is one of the reasons why women stop breastfeeding early,’’ he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that representatives from the Federal Ministries of Women Affairs, Labour and Employment, Humanitarian Services, Disaster Management, and Social Development, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), as well as other stakeholders, were present at the event.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that UNICEF said seven out of 36 states provide six months of fully paid maternity leave, while only 34 percent of children agedzero to six months are exclusively breastfed as recommended.