By Ruth Oginyi
As the world observes the 2023 world breastfeeding week, a USAID-funded organization Breakthrough-Action Nigeria has called on the Ebonyi State government to ensure that there is a policy that guarantees 18 weeks of paid leave to lactating mothers in Civil and public service in the state.
The 2023 world breastfeeding week theme is: “Enabling Breastfeeding – Making a Difference for working parents.”
Clinton Ofoegbu the Ebonyi Nutrition focal person for Breakthrough Action-Nigeria, stated this during a media briefing to mark the 2023 Breastfeeding Week in Abakaliki.
He also advocated for some months of paternal leave for working fathers to enable them to assist their wives to achieve desired results from 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding, in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organisation.
He further called for the establishment of baby care centers such as creches in workplaces to offer mothers the needed close environment with their suckling babies.
World Breastfeeding Week is observed from the 1st to the 7th of August every year.
Mrs Uzomaka Nwifuru wife of the Governor represented at the event by her Personal Assistant, Mrs. Jessica Uburu, said the office of the governor’s wife would support the campaign for mothers to adopt positive breastfeeding behaviours.
On the roles of USAID-BA-N, Mr. Ofoegbu explained that BA-N was engaged in creating social behavior change through effective health Communication in the areas of maternal/child health, Malaria, family planning, and nutrition, among others.
He maintained that the absence of an operative policy to protect lactating mothers in workspaces often takes a negative toll on the campaign for six months of exclusive breastfeeding for adequate Baby nutrition.
He expressed optimism that the State government would use the weeklong breastfeeding activity to set machinery in motion towards handling such policy gaps affecting working mothers in the state.
“Your Excellency, the sweetest part that will be the overall achievement for me at the end of this weeklong event is going to be having to hear that commitment, especially from His Excellency, the Commissioners, and other policymakers as to how we can change the current narrative when it comes to working condition of breastfeeding mothers at the workspaces.
“Right now, our policy does not support that six months maternity leave.
“So, I am hoping to get a form of commitment from the Commissioner and your Excellency to say that from this event, we are going back to have another meeting with partners and stakeholders and to look into the current policy that the government is working within Ebonyi State, and see how we can revamp it, enhance it, and include at least, between 18 weeks to 6 months paid maternity leave for lactating mothers.”
In his submission, the Commissioners for Health in the state, Dr. Moses Ekuma
emphasized that legislating for at least 6 months of paid maternity leave would encourage exclusive breastfeeding for working mothers and assured that the state government which is workers friendly government will look into it.
Commissioner for Women Affairs Bar Felicia Nwamkpuma said the meeting has exposed her as well as provided her with resources to engage the women during activities of her ministry.
She said that to take the message to the grassroots level, council chairpersons will include it in their 2023 August meeting activities.
According to her while they talk about GBV, exclusive breastfeeding will form the major topic of discussion during the August meeting in the state.
The highlight of the event was the official flag-off of the activities for the World Breastfeeding Week at the Azuiyiokwu Mother and Child Health Centre, Abakaliki by the Governor’s wife Uzoamaka Nwifuru.
While flagging off the program, Mrs. Nwifuru urged traditional rulers, religious leaders, and other stakeholders to join hands in spreading the good message of exclusive breastfeeding in their area.
Earlier, the head of, the Baby Friendly unit of the State Ministry of Health, Mrs. Ngozi Nkama said that breast milk has all the required nutrients for the mental, physical, and overall development of infants and newborns and urged mothers not to take it for granted.
She added that the bonding achieved between mother and child through breastfeeding is psychologically beneficial to both parties and appealed for the Governor’s wife’s support to take the campaign to the hinterlands.
