RSG, Nestle Canvass Breastfeeding Policy

L-R: Board member, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Dr Bridget Okoeguale, Director-General, the National Agency For Food and Drug Administration and Control (Nafdac), Dr Paul Orhii and Vice President, Global Health Impact Programmes (Ghip), Dr Patrick Lukulay, at a Stakeholders Forum to disseminate anti-malaria medicines quality monitoring report, in Abuja, yesterday

Nestle’ Nutrition in part
nership with the Rivers State Government has called on government at all levels and stakeholders to formulate policy(ies) that would enhance the practice of Breastfeeding among nursing mothers across the nation.
The call became imperative following the nutrition value of breast milk to the health and growth of infants in their first 1000 days of life amidst the challenges faced by breastfeeding mothers.
Speaking at the one day seminar on Breastfeeding and Work: Make It Work’ organised by Nestle ‘ Nutrition in collaboration with the Rivers State Ministry of Health to mark the 2015 World Breastfeeding Week, last Thursday in Port Harcourt, the Director, Public Health, Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr. Wnanna Nyekwere remarked that with more women in the workforce,it has become necessary to highlight the essence of breastfeeding among nursing female staff as well as checking whether there are regulations or laws to support them in the face of female /children discrimination in most public places.
Nyekwere who noted that the benefits of breast milk for the baby has been proven doubts beyond expressed fears on the effectiveness of breastfeeding among these mothers as they battle with their work actions.
He said “the world population reveals that women outnumber the males in the paid workforce and they consist more of women of child bearing age.
Nyekwere maintained that government, corporate organizations, Non-governmental organizations (NGos) as well as such female policy arm’s including the Federation of International Women Lawyers (FIDA) should sue for such laws that would support and protect breastfeeding mothers for the well-being of the future Nigerians.
In her goodwill message, the Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Minsitry of Women Affairs, Dr (Mrs) Justina Jumbo averred that the ministry had been protectors of the practice of breastfeeding among her female staff.
“The ministry has been spear teaching breastfeeding at the work place. This was what led to the establishment of a crèche at the state secretariat in 2013 where there are over 30 children at present and with a conducive atmosphere.”
Jumbo who noted with dismay the unfriendly attitude of most establishments towards their nursing female staff urged directors and heads of ministry and parastals across the states to shun such habits and permit their nursing female workers to breastfeed their babies for their good health and well being.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Field Operations Manager, Nestles’ Nutrition, Dr Toby Ilesanmi revealed that Nigeira has 17 per cent breastfeeding rate in Africa, describing it as the lowest.
Ilesanmi who that Nestle’ Nutrition was poised to contribute in building a solid foundation in the first 1000 days of life said however that the current challenges faced by breastfeeding mothers at their workplaces was a risk on the present and future health of the child adding that this had challenged the organisation fashion out ways to sustain breastfeeding even at the workplace.

Lady Godknows Ogbulu