… Lactating mothers to enjoy 6 months maternity leave
By DANIEL ATORI
As part of plans to ensure fathers have enough time to support their lactating wives, Niger state government has disclosed that efforts are ongoing to formalize one month paternity leave in the state to enable them support their breastfeeding wives.
Commissioner for Primary Health Care Dr. Ibrahim Dangana said at a briefing as part of activities to mark this year’s World Breastfeeding Day in Minna that, “efforts are also ongoing to fast tracking the approval of the 6 months’ maternity leave for lactating mothers.
The Commissioner while speaking on this year’s theme ‘Prioritise Breastfeeding: Create a sustainable support system’, said the whole idea is to create awareness about the benefits of breastfeeding for infants, young children, women, and communities.
Dr. Dangana who was represented by the Permanent secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Mohammed Gana said it has been 2 weeks’ paternity leave for fathers, but a one-Month paternity leave is being considered to enable fathers have enough time to support their lactating wives.
He said, it is time to recognize breastfeeding as a powerful foundation for lifelong health, development, and equity.
It should be noted that the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life, followed by continued breastfeeding with appropriate complementary foods for up to 2 years and beyond.
Accordingly, he said “plans are ongoing to ensure a one-Month paternity leave approved and gazetted for our men to so that they can support their breastfeeding wives and also bond well with their newborn”.
He added that, all mothers should be supported to initiate breastfeeding as soon as possible after birth, within the first hour after delivery and should receive practical support to enable them to initiate and establish breastfeeding and manage common breastfeeding difficulties.”
He further advised that “work or any form of employment should not separate the nursing mother from her baby”.
He said the Government is championing the best practices for workplace-related breastfeeding support, in all 25 LGAs, across different contract types and sectors.
In her remarks the State Nutrition Officer, Hajia Asmau Muhammad said the government is doing all within its reach to promote actions that can be taken to help ensure breastfeeding works for all women who work, wherever they work.
She also urged mothers to ensure early and uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact, rooming-in and kangaroo mother care which significantly improves neonatal survival and reduce morbidity.