*The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) commends the Kaduna State Government on implementing a six-month paid maternity leave to allow lactating working mothers to exclusively breastfeed their babies

Alexander Davis | 绿帽献妻

For establishing the Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) programme in 20 of the 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has applauded the Kaduna State Government for its efforts at achieving optimal IYCF practices in the state.

绿帽献妻 reports Mrs. Chinwe Ezeife, Nutrition Specialist in UNICEF Kaduna State, who gave the commendation while speaking with reporters in Kaduna said the commendation was timely as the world commemorates the 2021 World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) titled, 鈥淧rotect Breastfeeding: A Shared Responsibility鈥欌��.

Photo: WBFAfrica.Org

Mrs. Ezeife explained that IYCF includes early initiation of breastfeeding for new born babies, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, and optimal nutrient-dense complementary feeding after six months.

The UN agency鈥檚 Nutrition Specialist disclosed the Kaduna State Government, supported by UNICEF and other development partners, has established the IYCF programme in 20 of its 23 local government areas and that plans were on to cover the remaining three.

She commended the state government on implementing a six-month paid maternity leave to allow lactating working mothers to exclusively breastfeed their babies.

Plans are also on the way for paternity leave to enable husbands to support their wives to practise exclusive breastfeeding, said Ezeife noted.

The UNICEF nutrition expert said: 鈥淭his will give infants a good start in life for healthy growth and development.

鈥淎lso, a cr猫che has been established at the Planning and Budget Commission, to encourage Ministries, Department and Agencies to provide a befitting environment for working mothers to breastfeed their babies.

鈥淭his is quite commendable and in line with this year鈥檚 WBW鈥檚 theme, which focuses on mobilising relevant stakeholders to support women to practice exclusive breastfeeding.鈥�

According to her, early initiation of breastfeeding provides children with colostrum, the first form of milk produced by a woman immediately after she has been delivered of a baby.

Infant and young child feeding enlightenment programme in Nigeria聽 聽Photo: Spring-Nutrition.Org

The first milk, she said, is often described as 鈥渇irst immunisation鈥欌��, because it protects infants from certain diseases and allows them to grow strong and healthy.

Mrs. Ezeife further stated that exclusive breastfeeding is critical to a child鈥檚 cognitive development.

鈥淓xclusive breastfeeding not only makes children very intelligent and less prone to diseases, it also saves parents huge costs on baby formulae.

鈥淎ll a mother requires to practice exclusive breastfeeding is the support from all stakeholders and food security to feed very well to produce the needed milk to breastfeed her baby.

鈥淭his was uniquely done by a mother, Hajiya Amina Abubakar, who was supported by family members, community, health workers and relevant stakeholders to exclusively breastfeed her triplets,鈥欌�� she added.

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