The wife of Ebonyi State Governor, Mary-Maudaline Nwifuru, has called on the traditional rulers, legislators, religious leaders, women and men organisations, and policymakers in the state to use their different platforms to promote and support exclusive breastfeeding.
According to her, exclusive breastfeeding remains a veritable means towards the eradication of child malnutrition.
Nwifuru gave the charge during the launching of the 2023 World breastfeeding week campaign tagged ‘Enabling breastfeeding – Making a difference for working parents’.
The event held at Azuiyiokwu Mother and Child Health Centre, Abakaliki, attracted WHO, USAID-BAN, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Women Affairs and other health partners.
Nwifuru, however, charged lactating mothers to embrace exclusive breastfeeding so as to improve the development of their babies, adding that her office is committed to supporting and protecting the rights of women, girls, and children.
Also, the head of the Baby-friendly unit of the State Ministry of Health, Mrs Ngozi Nkama, noted that breast milk has all the required nutrients for the mental, physical and overall development of infants and newborns adding that the bonding achieved between mother and child through breastfeeding is psychologically beneficial to both parties.
She, however, pleaded with the First Lady to support the taking of the campaign to the hinterlands.
Collaborating, the State Nutrition focal person for (USAID-BA-N) Mr Clinton Ofoegbu, urged the governor’s wife to champion the implementation that will guarantee at least 18 weeks of paid leave to lactating mothers and two weeks for their husbands in civil and public service in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organisation (WHO).
According to him, the absence of an operative policy to protect lactating mothers in workspaces often take a negative toll on the campaign for six months of exclusive breastfeeding for adequate baby nutrition.
Clinton noted: “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 actually change the current narrative when it comes to working condition of breastfeeding mothers at the workspaces.
“As of 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.”
He further made a case for the establishment of baby care facilities such as creche in workplaces to offer mothers the needed close environment with their suckling babies.
Responding to the State Commissioner for Health Mr Moses Nkama, assured (USAID-BA-N) that the state government would provide baby creches in all offices, to ensure that working mothers in government and private sectors breastfeed their infants for six months.
He added that plans are on the way for the Ebonyi government to adopt the extended six months of maternity leave for working mothers.
Also, the commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Felicia Nwankpuma, in her part, promised to use the 2023 August Meeting to sensitize and educate pregnant and lactating mothers on the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding till six months.
Earlier, during a press briefing, the Special Assistant to the Governor, office of the First Lady, Mrs Jessica Uburu, who represented the wife of the Governor, urged development partners to continue to protect, promote and support exclusive breastfeeding as this fundamental right of every child and mother for a healthy home.
Highlight of the event were gifts from the First Lady to mothers and children. Ends
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