Abba Dukawa
Kano State Team Leader of FHI360 Alive & Thrive project Dr Ashiru Hamza Muhammad has reiterated the important of breastfeeding to both mother and the babies as it Strengthen the bond with their children and reduced health conditions such as risk of Type 2 Diabetes and certain cancers in later life.
Saying Breastfed babies have a lower risk of asthma,and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), adding that Breastfed babies are also less likely to have ear infections and stomach bugs.
Dr Ashiru Hamza Muhammad made this known during a workshop for the sensitization of stakeholders on enabling breastfeeding environment for working parents as part of the 2023 World Breastfeeding Week recognized in partnership with Kano State Ministry of Health and FHI360 Alive & Thrive and World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action’s (WABA)
Also speaking at the stakeholders The chief of field office, UNICEF, Kano, Rahama Farah, urged the 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.
Said that only 9% of organisations in the formal sector have a workplace breastfeeding policy, with only 1.5% in the public sector.
Rahama Farah further 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.
Adding that government should also make crèche accessible for preschool toddlers so that working mothers can continuously have access to their wards in a comfortable environment.
With an alternative for the six-month paid maternity leave, the government should ensure that the next three months after resumption of duty from the existing maternity leave period be made half-day working period for nursing mothers.
