Niger State Government has reiterated its commitment to providing resources and championing best practices at workplaces to ensure friendly environment for all breastfeeding mothers.
The Commissioner, Ministry of Primary Healthcare, Dr Ibrahim Dangana, stated this during a Press briefing to celebrate the 2024 World Breastfeeding Week with the theme: “Closing the Gap, Breastfeeding Support for All,” in Minna.
The Commissioner who was represented at the briefing by the Permanent secretary of the ministry, Alhaji Abdullahi Imam said the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the
first six months of life, followed by continued breastfeeding with appropriate complementary foods for up to two years and beyond.
He added that WHO also recommends early and uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact, rooming-in, and kangaroo mother care which significantly improves neonatal survival and reduces morbidity.
According to him, “All mothers should be supported to initiate breastfeeding as soon as possible after birth, within the first hour after delivery, and should receive practical support to enable them to initiate and establish breastfeeding and manage common breastfeeding difficulties”.
He said the engagement of women in trade and employment is a positive development but was taking a toll on the quality of breastfeeding in terms of duration and frequency.
The Commissioner noted that work or any form of employment should not separate the nursing mother from her Baby.
He said the Ministry is working to ensure that all healthcare services aimed at supporting mothers to breastfeed, including counselling and skilled lactation support were optimised.
He explained that the State government is committed to providing resources and championing the best practices for workplace-related breastfeeding support in all 25 local government areas of the state l, across different contract types and sectors and promoting actions that can be taken to help ensure breastfeeding for all women who work in any environment.
He further explained that the review and introduction of six months of paid maternity leave and appropriate Paternity leave into the State civil service is at an advanced stage to facilitate exclusive breastfeeding of working nursing mothers.
He also reiterated, “that our tertiary, secondary and primary health facilities where antenatal care and deliveries are conducted are baby friendly and hospital initiatives- promoting breastfeeding and immunisation”.
Hajiya Asmau Abubakar, the State Nutrition Officer while briefing newsmen said, “Primary Health Care (PHC) is a holistic approach to healthcare that focuses on providing essential health services to individuals, families, and communities”, emphasising that one of the key elements of Primary Health Care is Nutrition and food security.
Hajiya Asmau stated that Niger State government has a Blueprint on food and nutrition whose vision ‘is where people are well nourished with improved quality of life contributing to human capital development, to reduce undernutrition among infants and children, adolescents, and women of reproductive age.
She also disclosed that some of the State’s targets are: to Promote, protect, and support early initiation of breastfeeding within first hour of delivery, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, and introduction of nutritionally adequate complementary foods at six months of age.
‘”To also Provide and promote Maternal Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) counselling and support for pregnant and lactating women at the community and health facility levels in line with the State plan,” she added.
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