Jigawa Governor’s Wife Canvasses Effective Maternity Entitlements For Women
By Ahmed Aminu, Dutse
Wife of Jigawa State Governor, Mrs Hadiza Umar Namadi has called for effective maternity entitlements that do not force women to choose between their families and their work.
The wife of the governor made the call in a speech delivered during the launching of the 2024 World Breastfeeding Week in Dutse. The week is to raise awareness on exclusive breastfeeding.
She said women must be allowed to “breastfeed anytime and anywhere” so that her child will have adequate food and nutrients needed to grow healthy.
Mrs Namadi emphasised the need for more stakeholders’ engagement to supports mothers achieve the target level of exclusive breastfeeding in the state.
“As you are aware, for babies under six months to stay healthy, scientific evidence recommends giving them breast milk only and on demand (day and night). No water, other liquids or foods should be given from the moment of birth until they reach six months of life, even in hot and dry climates, as breast milk contains all the water and nutrients a baby needs to grow well,” she said.
The governors wife said studies had indicated that babies who received liquids and foods in addition to breast milk before six months of age “are at greater risk of diarrhea and respiratory infections.”
According to her, every woman should support exclusive breastfeeding and promote it within her community.
“We are here to celebrate breastfeeding mums in all their diversity, throughout their breastfeeding journeys, while showcasing the ways families, societies, communities and health workers can have the back of every breastfeeding mum,” she said.
The governors wife maintained that the training of health professionals who provide helpful, respectful breastfeeding support should be boosted so as to end what she called “exploitative baby-milk promotions in all context.”
Mrs Namadi therefore urged mothers to breastfeed their children anytime and anywhere.
She added that the 2024 world breastfeeding week is unique for engaging 500 lactating mothers on massive awareness sensitization on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding in their communities.
On her part, the UNICEF Nutrition Officer, Kano, Abigail Nyam said their focus this year was on reducing the inequalities that hinder access to breastfeeding support.
The nutrition officer said the need for breastfeeding support in Nigeria is very critical, and called for the activation of emergency response plans to protect the youngest and the must vulnerable members of the society.
According to her, breastfeeding is crucial for the survival, health, and well being of infants and young children as it provides nutrients and protection against illnesses and ensure children’s growth and development.
Miss Abigail maintained that, to close the existing gap in breastfeeding inequalities, “we must engage all actors along the chain of breastfeeding support in Nigeria, including civil society organisations, government, policy makers, health systems, workplaces, communities and parents.”
The Syndicate reports that the 2024 world breastfeeding week has the theme ‘Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding support for All’.
This year’s celebration is coming at a time when Nigeria is set to break record for the highest number of lactating mothers breastfeeding simultaneously having mobilised 30,000 mothers across the 36 states and FCT.
The initiative is also to draw global attention to the importance of breastfeeding.
