WBW 2023: Private Sector In Kaduna Urged To Implement 6 Months Paid Maternity Leave

As the World commemorates this year’s World Breastfeeding Week (WBW), the Kaduna State Government on Tuesday urged those in the private sector and federal government agencies in the State to key into its six months paid maternity leave for breastfeeding mothers.

The State Deputy Governor, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe stated this while highlighting some of the State’s achievements so far recorded in support of nutrition interventions in the State while flagging off the breastfeeding week organised by the State Primary Health Care Board in collaboration with UNICEF, Alive & Thrive, CS-SUNN, Save the Children, ANRiN and other development partners.

Hadiza, whose message was delivered by the Commissioner of Health, Umma Kaltume Ahmed noted that the need for the event is even more critical considering the poor indices still being recorded in the state as a result of nutrition challenges. 

the need for the event is even more critical considering the poor indices still being recorded in the state as a result of nutrition challenges. 

To her, early initiation of breastfeeding within 1 hour of birth in Kaduna State according to MICS 2021 has dropped from 35.9% (NDHS 2018) to 13% (MICS 2021), noting however that exclusive breastfeeding (feeding a child with only breastmilk without water or drinks for the 1st six months) has appreciated from 19.7% (NDHS 2018) to 41.1% (MICS 2021). 

“Based on these sub-optimal indices, the need to scale up efforts in promoting early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding of infants 0-6 months old, and introduction of appropriate complementary feeding practices through social and behavioral change communication strategies become even more paramount. 

“These efforts will no doubt enable us all to protect, promote and support these high-impact, low-cost, and highly effective breastfeeding and other Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) practices for our vulnerable groups.

“Some of the achievements the Stated recorded in recent past include pronouncement and implementation of a 6 months paid maternity leave (extended from the earlier 3 months) for mothers working in the State Civil Service, which has taken effect across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) with the hope that all others even in the Private and Federal Sectors working in the state will follow suit”, she added.

“I also have reports of a few MDAs in Kaduna, that are yet to align to this six months maternity leave policy. This is not acceptable and will be dealt with soon enough. 

“Establishment of creches across MDAs (Ministry of Human Services and Social Development as well as the Planning and Budget Commission) to support lactating mothers to continue breastfeeding their infants, even after the maternity leave and they resume work. 

“The state government has established nutrition corners across 23 LGAs to provide nutrition counseling and practical demonstrations on how to adequately prepare food and feed infants aged 6-59 months.

“A healthy child leads to a more productive adult. All employers of labor, both formal and informal, families and communities must join hands with the government to create an enabling environment to support women to appropriately feed their babies”, she said.

She acknowledge and thanked development partners which include but are not limited to UNICEF, Alive and Thrive, CS-SUNN; the traditional and religious institutions, media, and MDAs that have collectively contributed towards the successful conduct of the WBW just as she appreciated mothers, families, and employers who support and promote breastfeeding.

The World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) was established in 1992 by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) to address issues relating to poor early initiation of breastfeeding (within 1 hour of birth), exclusive breastfeeding of infants for a period of 6 months, and introduction of appropriate complementary feeding from 6 months as well as continued breastfeeding up to 2 years or beyond.

The 2023 theme is “Enable Breastfeeding, Making a Difference for Working Parents”, which is in line with the thematic area 4 of the WBW-SDG 2030 campaign, focusing on breastfeeding and employment/work.