Dutse – The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Monday urged government at all levels and other employers of labour to approve six months as maternity leave for expectant mothers.
UNICEF Field Officer in Bauchi zone, Mr Abdullai Kaikai, who made the plea, said that this would enable them to practice “effective exclusive breastfeeding’’.
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Kaikai, speaking at a ceremony to mark the 2015 World Breastfeeding Week in Dutse, said: “This is important because mothers need more time to practice exclusive breastfeeding.
“Where it is possible, a paternity leave should also be granted to husbands to assist their wives during this period.”
In her remarks, Mrs Roselyn Gabriel, the National Coordinator of Food and Nutrition Programme at the National Planning Commission, urged stakeholders to support exclusive breastfeeding.
Gabriel said that an enabling environment should be created for mothers to freely practice exclusive breastfeeding.
According to her, exclusive breastfeeding is capable of preventing over 800,000 child’s death annually in the country.
NAN reports that a quiz competition was organised among the 10 local government areas in the state to mark the day. (NAN)