Stakeholders in the maternal health sector in Kano state have urged Kano state government to extend the paid maternity leave period from three to six months as part of moves to provide an enabling environment for continuous breastfeeding.
The State Team Lead, Alive and Thrive, Dr. Ashiru Hamza Muhammad said importance of breastfeeding cannot be overemphasized as it increases the immune, psychological and social development of the child.
He made the call along with other stakeholders including nursing mothers in Kano during a workshop for the sensitization of stakeholders on enabling breastfeeding environment for working parents as part of the 2023 World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action’s (WABA) World Breastfeeding Week organised in partnership with Kano State Ministry of Health and FHI360 Alive & Thrive.
“Exclusive breastfeeding within the first 1,000 days is the only investment you can make for a child to let him or her grow healthy and contribute his or her quota to the development of the country,” Dr. Muhammad said.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Kano State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran represented by the Director, Public Health, Dr. Rajab Ashiru said the best way to prevent malnutrition for children is through exclusive breastfeeding.
He added that exclusive breastfeeding provides the child with immune to fight any form of diseases such as diarrhea among others.
Similarly, the UNICEF Chief of Field Office in Kano, Rahama Farah, stressed that only 9% of organizations in the formal sector have a workplace breastfeeding policy, with only 1.5% in the public sector.
Farah said there is an urgent “need to create an environment where working parents are supported in their journey of nurturing their children while also pursuing their careers.
He said aside its call on Kano state government to extend paid maternity leave from three to six months, government should among others also “Prioritize the needs of working parents through provision of lactation rooms/crèches in all Ministries, Departments and Agencies, and implement breastfeeding breaks and flexible work arrangements.”
He also asked the government to: “Provide adequate resources for prevention of malnutrition through promotion, protection and support for Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition.
“Reinforce messages on good nutrition and health during the first 1,000 days of life through various platforms, including media, public spaces, and workplaces.”
“Finally, as breastfeeding is shared responsibility, UNICEF call on everyone, traditional and religious, Community leaders, CSOs, media, and everyone to support breastfeeding,” he added.
Since 1992, WABA coordinates the World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) – a global campaign that aims to inform, anchor, engage and galvanise action on breastfeeding and related issues.
“Breastfeeding is one of the best investments in children’s and women’s health and survival. Breastfeeding could prevent 823,000 annual deaths in children younger than 5 years and 20,000 annual maternal deaths from breast cancer. However, workplace limitations remain the most common reason for women to never breastfeed or to stop breastfeeding earlier than recommended by World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF, or than they want themselves,” a statement by WABA reiterated.
It added that “There is a need to improve access to paid maternity leave, and other breastfeeding services for women both inside and outside the workplace. Workers in the informal economy are particularly vulnerable and need attention because maternity entitlements remain inaccessible for many of them, especially in low- and middle- income countries.”
