By CHIOMA OBINNA

Stakeholders  have risen from a National Summit on breastfeeding  to seek policy change and promotion of legislations that would guarantee longer maternity leave for nursing mothers and fathers as well as support for nursing mothers in workplaces, at home and in the community.

In her submission at the event organised by Colostrum International, in commemoration of the 2013 World Breastfeeding Week, Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina, regretted  a UNICEF report which states that breast feeding in Nigeria has declined to 17 percent, adding that, “it is a very sad as it impact negatively on the health of both mother and infant.”

Represented by Hajiya Rabiu Galadima, Director, Child Development in the Ministry, Maina observed that “The key to best breastfeeding practices is continued day – to -day support for the breastfeeding mother within her home and community. Encouraging breastfeeding of infants, I believe will not only reduce disease, poverty and child mortality but ensure the foundation of life and the future of every society/nation is guaranteed.”

Project Coordinator, Colostrum International, Dr. Bunmi Ogundimu called for policy change and promotion of legislations that will ensure six months maternity leave for nursing mothers and two weeks break for nursing fathers.

Ogundimu said already, Colostrum International is proposing a Child Rearing Bill before the Lagos State House of Assembly adding that the Bill, seeks a minimum of two weeks antenatal leave, 24-weeks of exclusive breastfeeding leave, two weeks paternity leave, provision of crèche in organisations, nursing mothers’ empowerment scheme  and establishment of Breast milk banks among others.

In a lecture entitled; “Breastfeeding: A tool to achieving the MDG 4”, Dr. Abimbola Ajayi, Deputy Director, Nutrition, Lagos State Ministry of Health maintained that the time to plan, protect and support the next generation is now.