The Nasarawa State Government has promised to create breastfeeding friendly environments in offices to enable breastfeeding mothers take care of thier children.
Permanent Secretary (PS), Ministry of Health, Dr. Jenet Angbazo, made the disclosure on Monday in Lafia at a press briefing shortly after rally to commemorate the ‘2023-World-Breastfeeding-Week.
The rally organised by the ministry of health, had in attendance Hajiya Silifat Sule, First Lady of Nasarawa State, Barr. Abigail Waya, Head of Civil Service, all female Permanent Secretaries, Civil Society Organisations among others.
The group matched from the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital (DASH) Lafia to the office of the Deputy Gov. Dr. Emmanuel Akabe and was received by him.
According to the permanent secretary, breastfeeding addresses inequalities that stand in the way of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
She added that the theme focuses on breastfeeding and work, providing a strategic opportunity to advocate for essential maternity rights that support breastfeeding.
The PS added that the work-place challenges remain the common reason why women stop breastfeeding before the recommended period.
“We will therefore ensure that all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the state creates breastfeeding friendly environments to support mothers.
‘We will also lobby the state House of Assembly to increase the maternity leave from three to six months, to encourage exclusive breastfeeding and to enable children gets all the necessary nutrients,” the permanent secretary added.
Also speaking, Silifat Sule, First Lady, said the importance of breast milk to the development of the child cannot be overemphasized, hence the need for mothers to take it seriously.
Hajiya Silifat added that the breast milk is a gift from God and cannot be substituted and encouraged mothers to adopt exclusive breastfeeding and still breastfeed their children alongside other foods after six months.
The first lady therefore called on parents to be careful who and where they entrust their children to, as the world is now full of evil.
“Parents and guardians should closely monitor the activities of their children even if they are not in the house with them,” the first lady added.
Receiving the team, the state Deputy Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe said mothers should de-emphasized the use of any milk apart from breast milk for their children.
Dr. Akabe added that the state government would create an enabling environment to support nursing mothers.
The deputy governor also added that the state government would workout the modality to increase the maternity leave to six months in order to help nursing mothers have sufficient time to feed their children.