From Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri
The Borno State government has pledged support for nursing mothers to encourage optimum breastfeeding of children in the state.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Mohammed Ghuluze made the pledge at a press conference in Maiduguri on Tuesday to mark World Breastfeeding Week.
Ghuluze said breastfeeding is the cornerstone for a child’s survival, noting that it helps to foster optimum growth and child survival.
“Women need to continue support from the government, health system in workplaces and communities to play their critical roles in empowering them and sustaining breastfeeding friendly environment,” the permanent secretary said.
Speaking on government interventions to encourage exclusive breastfeeding of newborns in the state, the senior official said the government has conducted several advocacy programmes in communities and media to sensitize the people on the benefit of exclusive, optimum breastfeeding.
He said the government also introduced creche in the hospitals to encourage working nursing mothers to bring their children and breastfeed them regularly even while working.
Other support to encourage breastfeeding according to Dr Ghuluze, includes giving gifts to nursing mothers during the annual breastfeeding week.
He assured the Borno State will continue to support exclusive breastfeeding, saying it helps build child’s immunity and boost their growth, and mental capacity as well.
He said the government will reconsider the possibility of reviewing the four-month maternity leave for nursing mothers in the state. “We may consider the possibility of domesticating the Federal Government six-month maternity leave to nursing mothers in Borno,” he said.