6th August, 2015
The wife of the Lagos state governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode on Thursday tasked working class nursing mothers on diligent and exclusive breastfeeding of their babies, just as she urged employers of labour, to support global breastfeeding campaign, through liberal work conditions for nursing mothers.
She made the call at a symposium organised by the Department of Community Health and Primary Health Care, in collaboration with Pediatrics Department of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, to commemorate the 2015 World Breastfeeding Week, tagged: “Breastfeed and Work; Let’s Make it Work”.
She said while medical science has established the fact that breast milk supplies the much needed nutrients to the new born baby, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that exclusive breastfeeding, starting within one hour after birth, until a baby is six months old and has also been documented to be the most important source of protein to a growing baby.
Mrs. Ambode, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Civil Service Pensions Office Mrs. Ademola Olabowale, listed the benefits of breastfeeding to include boosting the immunity of the new born baby, good mental development, as well as healthy physical growth, stressing that women could not practice exclusive breastfeeding under stringent work conditions.
“The World Breastfeeding week calls for global action, whether a woman is working in the formal, non-formal or home setting. It is necessary to combine breastfeeding and work,” she said.
She lauded the Lagos State Government for being the only state in Nigeria to have reviewed maternity leave from three to six months and also introduced paternity leave to encourage men to support their wives at home during the period.
She urged other employers of labour to adopt measures, that would enable nursing mothers to combine breastfeeding and work, stressing that, it was time to fully recognize, protect and support all nursing mothers all over the world and ensure that exclusive breastfeeding works.
Earlier in her welcome address, Ag. Head of Department, Community Health and Primary Health Care, LASUTH, Dr. Yetunde Kuyinu, called for more action on improving national laws and practices on breastfeeding, with enactment of legislation protecting the breastfeeding rights of working women and established means for its enforcement.
She said her department will strive to create more awareness on the rights of working women to breastfeed.
In a similar forum, Mrs. Ambode, who was represented by the wife of the former Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Parastatal Monitoring Office, Mrs. Ladun Ogunbanwo at the official launch of Vitafoam Earlydays Breastfeeding Cover and Pillow, at Lagos lsland Maternity Hospital, commended the entire board, management and staff of Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, for partnering over the years with the State government to promote maternal and child health.
She said the launch of soft furniture that would support pregnant women and their children in early days are tailored towards reducing maternal and child mortality.