A Non Governmental Organisation, Alive and Thrive has advocated for the establishment of creches in all Ministries, Department and Agencies across Kaduna State and other working places to enable nursing mothers to breastfeeds their babies exclusively.
The Zonal Coordinator of the Organization in Kaduna, Mrs Sarah Didi Kwasu made the call during a Community Engagement Forum with key stakeholders on nutrition in Kaduna.
She said breastfeeding is one of the best investment in children’s and women’s health.
Mrs Sarah Kwasu also noted that, the cost of not breastfeeding babies exclusively had enormous implication at the individual, family and societal level.
According to her, the objective of the forum was to engage with individuals to understand the workplace challenges for nursing mothers and find way forward as well as to engage with organisations, government stakeholders and other partners to proffer solution on how to mitigate the challenges with a view to promoting breastfeeding in workplaces.
Mrs Kwasu also advocated for the legislation of six month paid maternity leave for nursing mothers.
She stressed that, Alive and Thrive would continue to partner with government and other stakeholders to expand and strategically scale up MIYCN coverage particularly in primary health care facilities.
Mrs Sarah Kwasu pointed out that, as part of effort to promote, protect and support breastfeeding, Alive and Thrive has advocated the need for government at all levels, public and private sectors, work places and community gate keepers to scale up breastfeeding for lactating mothers and their babies.
“Alive and Thrive is a global nutrition initiative to save lives, prevent illness, and improve the health and wellbeing of mother, children and adolescent by using evidence based approaches in collaboration with government and partners”
In a remark, Kaduna State Commissioner for Health, Hajiya Umma Kaltume Ahmad represented by the Director Public Health of the Ministry, Dr Aishatu Abubakar Sadiq said breastfeeding provides nutrition, protection and contributes to early child development, psychosocial development, as well as good mental health for mother.
Hajiya Umma Ahmad commended the State Primary Healthcare Board, the State Planning and Budget Commission and Alive & Thrive for involving communities aimed at addressing the disparity between real and perceived needs in communities.
Hajiya Umma Kaltume Ahmed also directed the creche in the ministry of health be renovated and commissioned immediately .
She said an audit was ongoing to verify compliance with six months paid maternity leave and availability of creches as well as safe spaces for breastfeeding in all government offices within the State.
The theme for this year’s World Breast feeding week is Enable breastfeeding, making a difference for mothers.
Representatives of Save Children International, Kaduna State Ministry of Justice, Kaduna State Primary Health Care Development Agency, NAFDAC among other stakeholders were present during the engagement forum.
Similarly, Kaduna State Coordinator, Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria Jessica Bartholomew has also made presentation on nursing financing at the event.
COV/AMINU DALHATU
