Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) says policy makers should be sensitised on the essentials of exclusive breastfeeding to push for adoption of six months maternity leave by government at all levels.
Mrs Beatrice Eluaka, Executive Secretary of CS-SUNN told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday, in Abuja, that six months leave would afford mothers the opportunity for exclusive breastfeeding and promote mother and child bonding.
Eluaka identified ignorance of some policy makers on the benefits of six months exclusive breastfeeding to the child and the entire society as a major challenge to the adoption of the policy.
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“There are many challenges impeding the adoption of six months maternity leave by states; after several years of pushing for this, we only got two states of Lagos and Kaduna.
“This is probably because the policy makers have not realised the essentials in ensuring exclusive breastfeeding, as such they need to be educated and sensitised,” she said.
Eluaka, who identified the media as key in getting the message across to policy makers, however, urged practitioners to increase their reportage on benefits of exclusive breastfeeding.
She said: “While we are doing our engagement we need also the media to harp on the advantages of breastfeeding not only to mothers and families, but to the nation at large.
“When we carry these issues from different angles, we are sure of improvement in the number of states that will adopt the six months maternity leave.
“I urge the media to highlight or lay emphasis on the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding to the baby, mother, family, the society, as well as the government.’’
Eluaka, who re-affirmed that breast milk was already made by God and given free, said it contained all nutrients and water the baby needed.
“If a mother is breastfeeding, she does not need to buy milk, infant formula or any other food for the baby; that is savings for the family for other things.
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“Also an exclusively breastfed baby does not fall sick, therefore the family will be free from paying hospital bills or purchasing drugs.
“A baby who is exclusively breastfed has high immunity because breast milk contains the antidote they need to protect them against infections or diseases.
“Also research has proven that there is bonding between mother and child that is being breastfed; the bond is very strong and helps in the mental and intellectual development of the baby,” Eluaka said.
She noted that healthy babies as a result of exclusive breastfeeding would also save government from unnecessary spending on importation of infant formula and procurement of medicines or equipment for hospitals.
According to her, exclusive breastfeeding has many advantages, including natural family planning, as breastfeeding mothers are highly unlikely to get pregnant than those who rely mostly on infant formula as baby food. (NAN)