Health Ministry, UNICEF, Others Pushes For Extension For Maternity, Paternity Leave In Bayelsa 

Baring any future changes in plans, the Bayelsa state Government, South-South Nigeria has indicated interest in enacting a law extending maternity and paternity leave for breastfeeding mothers in the state.

Some high ranking officials of the Government stated that this became necessary as latest surveys from the National Demographic Health Survey(NDHS) and UNICEF put the ratio of the practice of exclusive breastfeeding in the state at a record low 6%(percent).

National Wire gathered this on Thursday, 7th December at a one-day advocacy and sensitization programme for Legislators and the Head of Service of the state organized by the state Ministry of Health and state Primary Health Care board in collaboration with the United Nations Children Fund(UNICEF) in Yenagoa, the state capital.

The programme was tagged, ‘Advocacy and Sensitization of Legislators and the Head of Service for the passage of a bill in support for six months’ paid maternity leave and two weeks paternity leave and implementing the breastfeeding workplace initiative in Bayelsa state’.

National Wire which monitored the event reports that the programme also featured goodwill messages from representatives of various health and child nutrition related oragnisations.

Speaking as Guests of honour, the duo of the Chairman, Bayelsa State House of Assembly Committee on Health, who is the member representing Sagbama constituency one, Hon. Godbless Onyikie, and Chairman House Committee on Women, Children and Social Welfare, member representing Yenagoa constituency one, Hon.(Mrs) Ayibanengiyefa Egba noted that exclusive breastfeeding was paramount for the mental and physical development of the child.

The lawmakers reassured that they were willing to partner in sponsoring a bill extending the already existing number of months for maternity leave to at least six months as canvassed in the programme.

They added: “But for bureaucracy, a legislation from the Assembly to extend maternity and paternity leave should be ready by the second quarter of 2024. We’ll collaborate with all critical stakeholders and our colleagues in the House to sponsor a bill to extend the number of months alloted for maternity and paternity leave so as enable our breastfeeding mothers practice exclusive breastfeeding.

“As a Medical practitioner that I’m and my colleague here with me as House Committee Chairperson on Women, Children and Social Welfare, we want to reassure Bayelsans that we’ll partner to bring the practice of exclusive breastfeeding in the state by breastfeeding mothers to fruition. There’s no alternative to it”.

Also speaking, the Head of Service of the state, Barr(Mrs) Biobelemoye Charles-Onyoma, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Establishment, office of the Head of Service, Chief Yela Joseph Alagoa stated that the call for exclusive breastfeeding was apt.

She noted that her office would consult all relevant stakeholders with a view to ensuring that the rationale behind the advocacy and sensitization programme was realized.

Earlier, in their separate addresses, the duo of the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Pabara Igwele, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Oluwatoyin Azebi, and the Chairman of the State Primary Health Care Board(BYPHCB), Dr Appah Williams Weri underscored the importance of the programme, noting that they were committed towards a continued advocacy and sensitization in partnership with stakeholders.

In same vein, the trio of the chairman, Bayelsa State Health Insurance Scheme(BHIS), Professor(Mrs) Onyanye Kunle-Olowu, Professor (Mrs) Alice Nte, and the State Nutrition Officer(SNO), Mr Wilson Ebimieboseigha have emphasized the importance of exclusive breastfeeding and child nutrition.

They called for stronger synergy between the Government and others stakeholders towards ensuring that there is a legal instrument to guarantee at least six months paid maternity leave and two weeks paternity leave for the breastfeeding mothers and their spouses.

They said: “A recent research showed that investing in breastfeeding has the following potentials for Nigeria: It’ll prevent 103,742 child deaths annually. 10 million cases of childhood diarrhea and pneumonia would be prevented annually and it would save Nigeria, Bayelss inclusive the sum of USD 22 million(22 million Dollars which when converted to Nigeria at the current exchange rate amounts to N 6.93 billion.

“Investing in breastfeeding would also eliminate an estimated USD38 million(N11 billion) worth cost of breast milk substitute, it would generate additional USD 21billion(N 6.6 trillion income for the economy, representing 4.1% percent gross national income over children productive years.

“What the breastfeeding mother needs is support, time and space for her to breastfeed her new born child or children with her nutritious breast milk”.