Kaduna state government has directed Ministries, Departments and Agencies MDAs to establish creche in their various offices to properly nurture underaged children and reduce burden of nursing mothers at the work place..
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Planning and Budget Commission Mrs. Pheobe Sukai Yayi made the call at the commission of a Pilot Creche in the Ministry.
She said creche has become a necessity in the work place to nuture children to maturity through adequate Care in an environment that is close to mothers.
Mrs. Phoebe Sukai Yayi emphasised that over the years, rampant increase of abuse of underage children by Nanies are being reported while grand mothers are too weak to take adequate care of them.
According to her, the state government has since approved six months maternity leave to nursing mothers, noting that establishment of creche across the MDAs will eliminate incessant demand of leave by them.
In a speech, Wife of the State Governor, Hajiya Aisha Ummi Elrufai emphasised that availability of Creches in the MDAs will promote optimal Breastfeeding practice by female civil servants and also contribute in reducing high rate of morbidity and mortality among children under the age of five.
Represented by the State Project Manager, Emergency Nutrition Action Plan Mallam Umar Bamali, Wife of the Governor said breastfeeding is considered as a biological way of providing young human infants with the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development.
At the event the Chairperson Civil Society Scalling Up Nutrition in Nigeria, Ms Jessica Bartholomew appealed to the State Ministry of Health to utilize an already established hall for same purpose which was converted to a store by the Ministry.
Ms. Jessica also called on the Ministry of Social Development and Human Services to spearhead implementation of Creche across all the MDAs.
The MDAs were given Two weeks to submit deadline for establishing their creches.
Shindong Bala