UNICEF ENUGU FIELD OFFICE HOLDS DIALOGUE ON EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING, EXTENSION OF SIX MONTHS PAID MATERNITY LEAVE
REPORTER: EMEFIENA OKONKWO
A Nutrition Specialist, Mrs. Chito Nelson, says 149 million children under the age of five are stunted across the world, with malnutrition being an underlying cause of up to 50% of death of children under five.
Mrs. Nelson stated this in Enugu, during a two day High level Engagement meeting/Policy Dialogue with Heads of Civil Service and Relevant Policy Makers from eight states of UNICEF, Enugu Field Office.
They are Abia, Anambra, Benue, Cross River, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo and Kogi States.
The high level “Engagement meeting/policy Dialogue on workplace support for Breastfeeding, Extension of six months paid Maternity Leave, Zero Water and the Code of Breast milk Substitutes” was organized by the Enugu State Ministry of Budget and Planning in collaboration with UNICEF.
The Nutrition Specialist noted that in Nigeria, malnutrition posed a serious threat to health and development, with severe consequences for survival of individuals and ability of the economy to thrive.
She advocated concerted efforts towards solving the problem of malnutrition.
In a keynote presentation, UNICEF Nutrition Specialist, Mrs. Ngozi Onuora, noted that UNICEF had sustained its collaboration with the eight states of Enugu Field Office with record achievement, improving the lives of children and women.
She, however, stated that much work still needed to be done.
Mrs. Onuora called on governments and other stakeholders to ensure workplace support for Breastfeeding, extension of six months paid maternity leave and zero water exclusive breastfeeding.
She equaly called for increased funding for the implementation of the Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) strategy as well as social and behaviour change for appropriate infant and young child feeding.
Other resource persons, Professor Alice Nte, Mrs. Beatrice Eluaka and Dr. David Ugwunta, stressed the importance of zero water exclusive breastfeeding in the mental and physical development of infants.
They also emphasized the roles breastfeeding plays in disease prevention, both on the infant and the nursing mother.
Earlier in a welcome address, the Head of Service, Enugu State, Mr. Kenneth Ugwu, encouraged participants to evolve programmes that would support breastfeeding.
He reiterated Enugu State Government’s committment to child wellbeing and development, guaranteed by paid maternity leave and breastfeeding.
The event was well attended by top government officials, including wife of Deputy Governor of Abia State, Mrs. Adaeze Chidera Emetu and Specialists from UNICEF.
EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU
