***Want govt to approve 6 months maternity leave
From Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse
The wife of the Jigawa state governor, Hajiya Hadiza Umar Namadi has promised to float a special empowerment project that will increase the source of income for nursing mothers to enable them have access to nutritional value foods for adequate breast milk for their babies.
The wife of the governor made the disclosure while fielding question from newsmen shortly after the 2023 world breastfeeding day held at Manpower Development Institute, Dutse, Jigawa State.
Hajiya Hadiza Umar Namadi explained that “the project is aimed at empowering nursing mother’s to increase their source of income for them to be able to get nutritional value foods for healthy and adequate breast milk for their babies to enhance exclusive breastfeeding.
According to her “The idea behind the pet project is to alleviate poverty which leads to hunger and malnutrition in the households.
She pointed out that breast milk will happen if the mother takes enough and nutritional value foods.
“So there is need to alleviate poverty among the mothers before we can talk of exclusive breastfeeding”.
The first lady also appealed to the state government and the private sector to approve the immediate implementation of the proposed six months maternity leave for working mother’s to strengthen the practice of exclusive breastfeeding.
She further charged mother’s to abide by cultural, spiritual and professional guidance in breastfeeding their children as generally agreed on, as there is no alternative to it.
Speaking at the occasion the UNICEF Kano field nutrition officer, Alhaji Diop indicated that the annual event is a powerful platform to raise awareness and garner support for breastfeeding, with each year’s centered around a specific theme.
According to him, “This year’s theme is Enabling Breastfeeding – Making a Difference for Working Parents.” He explained that this year’s theme is focused on Breastfeeding and work. “Breastfeeding is not only a natural and beautiful act but also crucial for the health and well-being of children and mothers.
“As we gather to celebrate this week, it is essential to reflect on the progress we have made so far and the strides that still lie ahead in supporting our working parents”.
The nutrition officer maintained that “Nigeria currently implements two maternity entitlement provisions. The first, enshrined the Nigerian Labour Act, provides up to 12 weeks of maternity leave with at least 50% of salary and breastfeeding breaks during working hours”.
He added that “The second, adopted by the Federal Public Service and pending ratification by states and local civil service, offers a 16-week maternity leave with full pay and two hours off each day to breastfeed up to six months after resuming duty”.
“We must foster a workplace culture that recognizes the critical role of both parents in raising a healthy and happy child. Presently, the formal sector employs approximately one million women, while 95% of women work within the informal sector. Shockingly, only 9% of organizations have a
workplace breastfeeding policy, with only 1.5% in the public sector. This has to change”.
Speaking at the event which was organized by the state primary healthcare Agency in collaboration with UNiCEF, the Permanent Secretary and Executive Secretary of the Agency, Dr Kabiru Ibrahim Chamo said exclusive breastfeeding shields infants from many ailments and diseases.
He added that, the child that is exclusively breastfed always grows with healthier, stronger immunity, sharper brain, and more potential to becoming more productive in the society.