By Bashir Rabe Mani, Sokoto
The Sokoto State House of Assembly has been urged to enact legislation extending maternity leave for female civil servants from four to six months to promote exclusive breastfeeding and improve child nutrition.
Team Lead, Partnership and Collaboration at the Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), Shuaibu Musa Kafin-Gana, made the call on Tuesday during an advocacy visit to the House Committee on Health at the Assembly Complex.
Kafin-Gana said the proposed extension could be pursued through a private member’s bill, providing a legal framework for the state government to implement the policy.
“If enacted, the law will encourage six months of exclusive breastfeeding for newborn babies. This will improve their health and contribute to the overall well-being of society,” he said.
He noted that Sokoto State had recorded progress in reducing malnutrition among children under five, saying the rate declined to 42 per cent in 2023 from 54.8 per cent recorded in the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS).
However, Kafin-Gana expressed concern over cases of anaemia among adolescent girls and newborns, stressing the need for sustained interventions to improve maternal and child nutrition.
He urged lawmakers to support the proposed six-month maternity leave legislation as part of broader efforts to promote exclusive breastfeeding and improve children’s health.
Responding, Chairman of the House Committee on Health and member representing Gada East Constituency, Kabiru Dauda, acknowledged the progress recorded in reducing malnutrition among children under five in the state.
Dauda assured the delegation that the committee would support measures aimed at ensuring that children in Sokoto State remain healthy and well-nourished.
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