From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse
The Civil Society Scaling-up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) with support from United Nations Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF) have called for extension of maternity leave from three to six months in Jigawa state.
The call was made by the CS-SUNN programs officer Ambrose Evhoesor during a one day Policy Dialogue on the extension of paid maternity leave from three to six months.
He explained that, the one day dialogue aimed at securing more committiment for adequate and prompt releases of nutrition fund in the state.
The program officer maintained that, other objectives of the dialogue are to secure more commitments from policy makers on implementation of six months maternity leave with pay for women of reproductive age.
Mr Ambrose who said, the CS-SUNN is highly disturbed by the increasing rate of malnourished children across the country, added that they are working with all stakeholders to reduce the rate.
While making his remarks, the state coordinator CS-SUNN comrade Shu’aibu Musa Kafin-gana explained why exclusive breastfeeding is of paramount in Jigawa state.
He said, ensuring six months maternity leave will urged nursing mothers to adopt exclusive breastfeeding because they will concentrate on their babies and have ample time.
Kafin-gana identified some benefits of exclusive breastfeeding to both children and mothers as optimal nutrition, immune booster, bonding between mother and child, health benefits to the mother as well as a lot of economic benefits attached to it.
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