By Stanley Onyekwere
In a bid to improve breastfeeding practices, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has scaled up its determination to collaborate with relevant stakeholders, towards promoting breastfeeding-friendly environments at workplaces and communities in the Territory.
To this end, the Administration through its Primary Health Car Board (FCT PHCB) yesterday staged a baby show, in commeration of year’s World Breastfeeding Week, with the theme: ‘Enable Breastfeeding, making a Difference for Working Parents’, to ensure that every child experiences the unmatched lifesaving benefits of optimal breastfeeding.
Flagging off the celebration yesterday, at the the FCT Family Health Clinic, the Acting Secretary, Economic Planning Revenue Generation Private Public Partnership Secretariat
(EPRGPPPS), Mr. Prospect Ibe, decried that only few organizations have a workplace breastfeeding policy, which calls for serious thoughtful action.
Ibe, who doubles as Chairman, FCT Committee on Food and Nutrition, noted that despite vast evidence about the value and importance of breastfeeding, only 2 out of 10 FCT children are put to breast within 1 hour of birth, while only about 4 out of 10 are 2 exclusively breastfed as recommended.
The EPRGPPP Secretary, who was represented by his Legal Adviser, Barr. Harisu Umar, explained that although, breastfeeding is practiced by women, evidence has shown that women need adequate time and support to practice optimal breastfeeding.
He identified lack of support at the workplace as one of the main reasons why women stop breastfeeding before the recommended time.
“Moreso, as more and more Nigerian women are becoming economically active; there is the need to underscore workplace support for breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is not an obstacle to productivity. Research shows that women are more likely to stay in their job in the longer term, if they can breastfeed at work – which is a good way of retaining skilled workers.
“Breastfeeding is not
the sole responsibility of women, but our collective
responsibility. Everyone has a role to play. I call upon all stakeholders to join hands in creating an enabling environment for breastfeeding mothers by providing maternity protection such as paid maternity and paternity leaves, provision of lactation rooms, breastfeeding breaks etc.
“We must also prioritize education and awareness campaigns, targeting not only expectant and
new mothers but also their families, healthcare providers, employers, and communities at
large. We must ensure that all individuals understand the importance of breastfeeding and are equipped with the knowledge and skills to support breastfeeding mothers.
“I wish to urge everybody, about the need to ensure a breastfeeding-friendly workplace policies that employers allow mothers to breastfeed or express breast milk in a comfortable and private area, implement flexible work schedules, paid maternity leave, and ensure that breastfeeding breaks are provided during working hours.
“My earnest desire is that this year’s celebration will have a tremendous effect on our breastfeeding indices and also contribute to reducing malnutrition and other related illnesses in the FCT”, he stressed.
On his part, the Executive Secretary FCT PHCB, Dr. Isah Vatsa, said marking the week, both timely and very important as it highlights the importance of creating a supportive environment for parents to make informed decisions about breastfeeding.
Vatsa said Breast milk is the perfect nutrition for an infant, offering all the necessary nutrients and antibodies to protect against diseases and promote healthy growth and development. It also helps to strengthen the baby’s immune system and reduces the risk of chronic illnesses and to provide the necessary resources and support for them to carry out this act of nurturing,
He adds: “I want to assure you that FCT Administration remain committed to promoting the health and well-being of all residents of territory, especially our women and children.”
Not left out, FCT Nutrition officer, Clementina Okoro, who also stressed the importance of ensuring continuous breastfeeding campaign in order to improve such vital practices especially at workplaces.
She also urged mothers and caregivers to ensure that their children are adequately immunised within the available windows of free vaccinations in the FCT.
Highpoints of the event was the presentation of prizes to winners of the baby show as well as distribution of baby kits/gifts to nursing mothers.
