Kogi state mulls 6 months maternity leave for breastfeeding mothers

The Kogi state Ministry of Health and its development partners said it has initiated moved to extend maternity leave for working breastfeeding mothers from the present four months to six months to enable them properly breastfed their babies.

The Commissioner for Health Dr. zakari usman who disclosed this on Tuesday on the occasion of 2023 world breastfeeding on the theme ‘Enabling Breastfeeding: Making a difference for working mothers’., said a memo to that effect is before the state Head of Service for approval.

He noted that the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS 2021), indicated that only 29.5% of children in Kogi State are exclusively breastfed while only 54.7% of children age 6 months and above receives breastmilk, solid, semi-solid or soft foods.

According to him, the low percentage can be attributed largely not only to ignorance but also to increasing number of women contributing to economic activities in the home.

He noted that this is what formed this year’s theme tagged – Enabling Breastfeeding: Making a difference for working mothers.

The Commissioner noted that this year’s theme provides an opportunity for all political leaders, policy makers, legislators, women, men, religious leaders, families, communities, workplaces, the private sector, individuals and indeed every Kogite to take responsibility and join hands to raise awareness on the huge benefits of breastfeeding and support mothers to practice optimal breastfeeding for the good of the state and our great Nation.

“We therefore urge all stakeholders, governments, donors and civil society partners to strengthen efforts to promote, protect and support breastfeeding. These efforts should include increasing investment in services for mothers, equipping health and nutrition workers with the education, training and skills needed to provide practical breastfeeding support and implementing family-friendly policies such as six months maternity leave with pay and establishment of creches in the workplace so that mothers have the time and space they need to breastfeed – no matter where they are.

“Women should not have to choose between breastfeeding their children and their work. Kogi State Ministry of Health remains committed to support, protect and promote breastfeeding as a veritable means towards eradication of childhood malnutrition in all its forms. The Ministry seizes this opportunity to recommend once again, that, early initiation of breastfeeding within the first one hour of birth; exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life and continued breastfeeding for up to two years of age or beyond while ensuring the implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes as globally recommended.”

He stressed that as a global goal for optimal maternal and child health and nutrition, all women should be enabled to practice exclusive breastfeeding and all infants should be fed exclusively on breast milk from birth to 6 months of age.

“Thereafter, children should continue to be breastfed, while receiving appropriate and adequate complementary foods, for up to two years of age or beyond. This child-feeding ideal is to be achieved by creating an appropriate environment of awareness and support so that women can breastfeed in this manner.