Nasarawa State to Create Breastfeeding Friendly Environments in Offices

The Nasarawa State Government has promised to create breastfeeding-friendly environments in offices to enable breastfeeding mothers to take care of their children.

Permanent Secretary (PS), Ministry of Health, Dr. Janet Angbaz, disclosed in Lafia during a press briefing shortly after a rally to commemorate the 2023-World-Breastfeeding-Week.

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The rally organized by the Ministry of Health had in attendance First Lady of Nasarawa State Hajiya Silifat Sule, Head of Civil Service, Barr. Abigail Waya, all female Permanent Secretaries, Civil Society Organisations among others.

The group matched from the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital (DASH) Lafia to the office of Deputy Gov. Dr. Emmanuel Akabe and was received by him.

According to the permanent secretary, “Breastfeeding addresses inequalities that stand in the way of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”

She added that the theme focuses on breastfeeding and work, providing a strategic opportunity to advocate for essential maternity rights that support breastfeeding.

The PS added that workplace challenges remain the common reason why women stop breastfeeding before the recommended period.

“We will therefore ensure that all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in the state create breastfeeding-friendly environments to support mothers.

“We will also lobby the state House of Assembly to increase the maternity leave from three to six months, to encourage exclusive breastfeeding, and to enable children to get all the necessary nutrients,” the permanent secretary noted.

Also speaking, the First Lady, Silifat Sule, said the importance of breast milk to the development of the child cannot be overemphasized, hence the need for mothers to take it seriously.

Hajiya Silifat added that breast milk is a gift from God and cannot be substituted and encouraged mothers to adopt exclusive breastfeeding and still breastfeed their children alongside other foods after six months.

The first lady, therefore called on parents to be careful who and to whom they entrust their children, as the world is now full of evil.

“Parents and guardians should closely monitor the activities of their children even if they are not in the house with them,” she added.

Receiving the team, the deputy governor said mothers should de-emphasize to use of any milk apart from breast milk for their children.

Dr. Akabe added that the state government would create an enabling environment to support nursing mothers.

The deputy governor also added that the state government would work out the modality to increase the maternity leave to six months to help nursing mothers have sufficient time to feed their children.