The chairman, Jigawa State Civil Society Scaling-up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), Comrade Shuaibu Musa Kafingana has appealed to the state government to expedite the domestication and implementation of the six-month maternity leave policy.
The chairman made the appeal in a paper presented at one-day Policy Dialogue on the extension of paid maternity leave for nursing mothers from three to six months, held Tuesday at Tahir Guest Dutse, which would give the mothers enough time to practice exclusive breastfeeding for six months.
Comrade Shuaibu Musa Kafingana explained that it had been discovered and recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF), and Federal Ministry of Health, etc. that exclusive breastfeeding from the first day to six months for every child is Heather and best prevention of all children diseases.
According to him, “Domesticating the law and extension of the leave would allow the nursing mothers to stay at home 24/7 for the complete six months needed for exclusive breastfeeding their babies”.
He noted that the WHO, UNICEF, and other health experts recommended and encouraged exclusive breastfeeding for the health benefits for both the mother and the child, “apart from medical benefits to child for diseases prevention, it’s all have a lot of benefits in child’s brain development. The child would be intelligent and quick learner”.
He said that ensuring six months of maternity leave will urge nursing mothers to adopt exclusive breastfeeding because they will concentrate on their babies and have ample time.
In his opening remarks, the CS-SUNN Programme Officer, Mr Ambrose Evhoesor, said the one-day dialogue was organized for all stakeholders in nutrition support and promotions to come together aimed at securing more commitment for adequate and prompt releases of nutrition funds in the state.
The program officer maintained that the dialogue would also opportune participants whom drown from government, media and civil society came up with more ideas to convince the government to domesticate the six months maternity leave with pay for women of reproductive age.
Mr Ambrose who said, the CS-SUNN is highly disturbed with increasing rate of malnourished children across the country, added that they are working with all stakeholders to reduce the rate.
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