… Only 15.7% adhere to practice in Niger
Wife of the Niger state Governor, Hajia Fatima Bago and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), have called on Women in state to practice exclusive breastfeeding, explaining that “only 15 percent of women in the state have adhered to the practice”.
Speaking during a goodwill message at the flag off of the 2025 World Breastfeeding Week in Minna, the Chief of Kaduna Field Office, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Dr. Gerida Birukila who was represented by Health Specialist, Dr. Ahmed Tsofo said even though at national level the percentage is 34 percent, Niger state still rates low.
Accordingly, she said “as UNICEF we are advocating to various governments to ensure the Six months maternity leave as a policy is approved and fully implemented.
“There are only 10 states which include Niger state that have approved the 6 months maternity leave with full pay.
“We are giving support at all levels of government so that when it is strictly applied, the indices for breastfeeding in Niger state is 15.7 percent while that at national level it is 34 percent.”
While flagging off the week, wife of the Niger state Governor, Hajia Fatima Bago encouraged lactating mothers to breastfeed their children exclusively within the first Six months.
According to her “breastfeeding helps in a way of family planning and prevent diseases from affecting the children. And so we encourage them to breastfeed up till 23 months”.
Also, team lead of the UNICEF U-Report, Aisha Ndagi during a sensitization move to various communities in Tunga ward, Minna said the essence is to ensure women adhere strictly to the Six months exclusive breastfeeding, the benefits and the importance.
In his remarks, Commissioner of Primary Health Care Dr. Ibrahim Dangana said all breastfeeding mothers in the state are benefitting from the Six months maternity leave adding that “it has been gazetted and already in practice.”
Represented by the Permanent secretary Dr. Mohammed Gana, the Commissioner confirmed that, in Niger state the State Executive Council has given its approval for the Six months paid maternity leave for all lactating mothers for the first six months after delivery.