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Breastfeeding: Incentivize Private Sector To Introduce Maternity Leave For Mothers, UNICEF Urges Govts
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has advocated the provision of incentives by governments that will encourage the private sector to avail mothers six months maternity leave to ensure adequate breastfeeding of their babies.
The global organization stressed that such incentives should ensure that the absence of mothers from their duty posts within the said period would not negatively impact the profit margin of the concerned private sector organizations.
The Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Enugu, Dr. Ibrahim Conteh, made the call, yesterday, in Enugu, in his welcome remark at the One-Day Zonal Media Dialogue on the Commemoration of the 2021 World Breastfeeding Week by UNICEF in collaboration with Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State (BCA), with the theme, ‘Protect Breastfeeding: A Shared Responsibility’.
Conteh observed that no country can talk about healthy living without paying attention to the first feeding and nutrition that is given to the babies, saying it was for that reason that adequate breastfeeding of children becomes very paramount in their lives.
He noted that it was for that reason that maternity leaves are given mothers in order to help them in breastfeeding their babies.
He recalled that “in the last few years, countries used to give women maternity leave of about three weeks, some one month, it went to two months, three months and now we have achieved six months.
“I think this has to go beyond the public sector. It has to also go to the private sector because it’s about equal rights; but we also know of a fact that government does not run the private sector and these are mostly profit making institutions.
“So, losing a staff for six months, you can imagine how much gap that is economically, how much they are going to loss. But this is where government comes in to regulate.
“There could be regulations or incentives that would ensure that the private sector does not loss that much money either through taxes or some other means; and there are ways to do that so that when a staff is away for six month for maternity it is possible that the business do not suffer too much so that the profit margins of the private sector is not affected.
“So, it comes back to the government because it is something that can be achieved.”
The Chief of Field Office disclosed that “this year all the stakeholders have come together to launch what we call the Nutrition for Growth Action Plan. And the foundation of that is breastfeeding, because you cannot talk about nutrition without talking about breastfeeding since that is the first nutrition when the child is born.
“So, if we get it right from the beginning, we feel that all other things about nutrition will fall into place. And it’s all also complementary because the breast by its nature is designed by God, as we do believe. God has ensured that everything that a child needs is in that cholesterol for growth, for health and everything else. Which is why it is really very important and it is being emphasised even in the western world.
“Even scientists have studied and researched and proved that you can never compare complementary milk additive to the breast milk. There has never been any product that is 100 per cent comparable to the breast milk and to the first day cholesterol.
“The content of that cannot be equalled to anything else. I know that in the West, there is now comparable milk that they will give to the child to replace cholesterol but it is not the same. That is why even in the West, they are promoting the idea of breastfeeding.
“You can only avoid breastfeeding if the mother for some health reason cannot do so. But we must ensure our children are breastfeed from the very beginning.
“I recall that as babies, our mothers gave us breast until we started walking around or even when the milk stops coming out from the breast. It is important that our mothers stick to breastfeeding of our babies for the health of our children.
“This is very important for the growth and development of the children, for the society and for everyone involved in ensuring the betterment of the society.”
Speaking on the overview of breastfeeding initiative in Nigeria and prospects, the Nutrition Manager, UNICEF Enugu, Dr Hanifa Namusoke, noted that a country that craves a healthy population, must start from the basics by ensuring that the children are exclusively breastfed.
“The first vaccine that is free for all at infancy is breast milk, in fact the first yellowish breast milk is that first vaccine for children and it should not be denied our children.
“It is pertinent to note that we cannot attain the 17 SDGs without paying adequate attention to breastfeeding.”
She lamented that breastfeeding in Nigeria is low at its present 29 per cent rate, noting among others that breastfeeding contributes to poverty reduction as it also helps prevent malnutrition.
The nutrition manager stressed also that breastfeeding significantly improves the healthy development and survival of the infants.
Namusoke insisted that it is unacceptable that animals ensure that their babies are fed with their breast milk but humans who should know better are abdicating that responsibility by opting to feed their infants with milk gotten from animals.
According to her, “available statistics in Nigeria reveal that the average duration of exclusive breastfeeding is approximately three months and only three out of every 10 children under six months of age were exclusively breastfed which is 29 per cent.
“This is an improvement from 17 per cent in 2013 to 29 per cent in 2018 (NDHS,2013; 2018), however, this still falls significantly below the target of 50 per cent set by the World Health Assembly to be achieved in 2025 and the SDGs target for 2030.
“The percentage of children who were breastfed within one hour of birth which is 42 per cent remains less than 50 per cent. Breastfeeding rates in Nigeria reduce with age; 83 per cent of the children are breastfed up to one year while 28 per cent are breastfeeding till two years. Furthermore, the proportion of children who are not breastfeeding increases with age.”
She observed that attaining the health component of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), may not be feasible without giving adequate attention to exclusive breastfeeding.
Speaking on the objectives of the meeting, the Communication Officer, UNICEF, Enugu, Ijeoma Onuoha-Ogwe, said among others, that it was to engage and equip journalists from the Enugu Field Office with the knowledge of exclusive breastfeeding practices, policies and norms as well as to promote its practice, among mothers.
According to her, the expected outcome from the gathering among others was to ensure that Journalists were sensitized and armed with simple knowledge on the 2021 World Breastfeeding Week.
She said it was also intended to get the commitment of journalists on the need to promote the immeasurable benefits of mothers ensuring that their children are availed exclusive breastfeeding.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Director General of Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State, Sir Anyaso Anyaso, assured that his organization would always align itself to support exclusive breastfeeding in its programmes.
Represented by Mr. Nkpa Okezie, the director general added, “we will always appreciate partnering UNICEF in driving home the exclusive breastfeeding measures and campaign.”
Speaking, the Enugu State Commissioner for Gender Affairs, Mrs Peace Nnaji, who commended UNICEF for putting the dialogue together, also lauded journalists for their enthusiasm to drive the message of exclusive breastfeeding down to the intended target.
Nnaji appealed to fathers to allow the mothers’ breastfeed the children for the overall wellbeing of the children and the society.
She also cautioned mothers who in the bid to stay in shape by denying their children the benefits of breast milk to desist and change their attitudes because according to her, aside denying the children the immense health benefits of breast milk the bond between mothers and children established during breastfeeding would not be there.
The commissioner noted that it was in a bid to promote breastfeeding among women of the state that the state government embarked on the provision of crèche in most public offices in the state where mothers take their babies in order to breastfeed them.
Also speaking, the Enugu State Head of Service (HoS), Ken Chukwuegbu, represented by the Director of Finance and Accounts, Mrs Oby Okafor, noted that when children are adequately breastfed it adds lots of credibility to their growth.
He also called on the government to influence the private sector to encourage breastfeeding among mothers in that sector by emulating the decision of the Enugu State Government to build crèche in public institutions.
He also announced that maternity leave in the state at the moment is four months but efforts are on to have it extended to six months.
According to the HoS, “Enugu State has already set up a committee to promote nutrition and food for all including babies. And of course, what babies get depends on what mothers put into the system,” she added.
The Federal Government has agreed to offer additional N20.5 billion for the completion of the Bonny-Bodo road project in December.
The government, however, said if the construction company, Julius Berger, was not ready to accept the offer, the contract will be terminated.
Minister of Works, David Umahi, said this during a meeting with the Managing Director of Julius Berger, Lars Ritcher and members of Bodo-Bonny Road Peace Committee, on Wednesday in Abuja.
The reports that Julius Berger had requested asking for a N28 billion variation on the 82 per cent completed project.
The company hinged its request on the rise in exchange rate, construction materials, and diesel among others.
Umahi, however, said the government was willing to provide N20 billion out of the N28 billion that Julius Berger requested for.
According to him, the Bonny-Bodo road contract which was initially awarded at the cost of N120 billion in 2015, was later varied at N199 billion with a completion dateline of December 2023, which has since elapsed.
The Tide’s source recalls that in 2017, an agreement between the Federal Government, Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) and Julus Berger on modalities for funding the project cost of N199.923 billion, without any further increase.
“If you do not accept the Federal Government’s offer by Friday and resume work on the site, the previously expired 14-day ultimatum for termination of project will be enforced.
“I want to let you know that we are the client. No contractor will dictate for this ministry, and there is no job that is compulsory that a particular contractor must do.
“We give you an offer. If you do not like the offer, you walk away. You don’t force us or we don’t force you.
“Agreement of contractual relationship is a mutual understanding,’’ the minister said.
Umahi said that had Julius Berger adhered to the project timetable, the project would have been completed on schedule before the impact of foreign exchange.
“Our position is very simple, we reject the conditions of Julius Berger totally and we ask Berger to please go back to the site to complete the project based on our offer.
“Our offer is unconditional and we say, accept or reject, so you cannot subject our offer to your conditions ,’’ he added
Umahi said the company should be humble in its dealings and exhibit solidarity during challenges.
Earlier, Richter had explained that the company suspended work on the site to seek some clarifications from the ministry.
According to him, the company asked for the augmemtation of N28 bilion because as at the time the contract was awarded the exchange rate was N305 to a dollar and diesel was N350 eor litre.
“We will still require some outstanding materials; that means that the initial agreement can’t fly because the variation of project is not sufficient and the exchange rate is also not in our favour to compensate the additional costs.
“That is why we decided to go back to our original proposal of the augmentation. Augmentation is a very normal process for all contracts,” the managing director said.
Chief Abel Attoni, Palace Secretary, Bonny Kingdom, expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the decision to complete the Bodo-Bonny road project.
Attonu urged the parties to be patriotic and make the necessary sacrifice for the actualisation of the project.
The Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, yesterday, set aside the warrant of arrest against Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie, the Chief of Staff, Government House, Rivers State, and five others.
Justice Emeka Nwite stated this while delivering his ruling in an application seeking to vacate the warrant of arrest which he issued on January 31, 2024.
The Judge said he was misled by the police in ordering the arrest of Ehie in connection with the burning of the Rivers State House of Assembly on October 30, 2023.
The Police, had told the court that Ehie and five others masterminded the bombing of the Rivers State House of Assembly amid a plot to impeach Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
The five others are Jinjiri Bala, Happy Benedict, Progress Joseph, Adokiye Oyagiri, and Chibuike Peter, alias Rambo.
Justice Emeka Nwite while setting aside the warrant said it has now become a mere academic exercise.
The judge further granted same to the 2nd to 5th Defendant/Applicant in same suit.
Femi Falana, SAN, and Oluwole Aladedoye, SAN, who appeared for the defendants in separate suits, held that the court lacked the jurisdiction to have granted the order.
While Falana filed a motion seeking an order to set aside the January 31 order by Justice Nwite, Aladedoye applied for a stay of execution of the arrest order.
In a motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/112/2024 dated February 2 and filed on February 7 by Falana, Ehie sought two orders, including “an order setting aside the order made on January 31 for want of jurisdiction.
“An order of this honourable court staying the execution of the order made on the 31st January 2024, pending the hearing and determination of this application.”
Giving six grounds of argument, Falana argued that the complainant had not filed any criminal charge or motion before the court.
The senior lawyer argued that the court lacked the territorial jurisdiction to entertain the ex-parte application as the alleged offences of conspiracy, attempted murder, murder and arson took place in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
“He submitted that the court lacked the vires to grant an application to arrest and declare his clients wanted in respect of the alleged offences.
“The complainant/respondent (IG) did not adduce evidence of terrorism in the affidavit in support of the application.
“The complainant/respondent did not cite any section of the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2013 (as amended) alleged to have been contravened by the applicants,” he argued.
Aladedoye in a motion on notice dated and filed February 9, on behalf of the five defendants, sought two orders, including
“an order staying execution or further execution of the order(s) of this honourable court made on the 31st of January, 2024, pending the hearing and determination of the appeal filed by the applicants.
“An order of injunction restraining the complainant from carrying out or further carrying out the orders of this honourable court made on the 31st January 2024, pending the hearing and determination of the appeal filed by the applicant in this case.”
Giving a three-ground argument, Aladedoye said that a notice of appeal had already been filed against Justice Nwite’s orders.
According to the senior lawyer, the notice of appeal contains grounds that challenge the jurisdiction of the honourable court.
The Inspector-General had, in a charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/25/2024, arraigned the defendants on a seven-count criminal charge bordering on terrorism and murder.
The authorities of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUOE), Rumuolumeni, in Rivers State, have stated that 13 students will be graduating with first class while 182 graduands will bag Ph.D during the 42nd convocation ceremony of the university billed to hold today and tomorrow.
The Acting Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Okechuku Onuchuku, disclosed this during pre-convocation press briefing held in his office, yesterday, to unveil the programme for the convocation ceremony.
Onuchuku said that the 13 students were among the 4,653 graduands expected to graduate for the 2022/2023 academic session with first degree, while 897 students will be graduating with postgraduate degrees.
The Acting Vice Chancellor while giving the breakdown stated that 13 students made first class, 890 students bagged second class upper while 2,739 students had second class lower for first degree.
He further stated that 182 graduands bagged PhD, 667 got master’s degree and 48 got postgraduate diploma, adding that the convocation ceremony will hold today and tomorrow for first degree graduands and postgraduate graduands respectively.
He said that a total of 47 programmes out of the 54 programmes being undertaken at the first degree levels had been given full accreditation by the National University Commission (NUC) as well as all the programmes at the postgraduate school.
“We have ensured that our programmes both at the first degree and post graduates are in line with the NUC stipulated guidelines and speculations. We have also ensured that we are in line with both our academic and administrative policies,” he said.
Prof. Okechukwu urged the graduating students of the institution to always remember to use thier positions to help their alma mater as well as project the institution in a good image in the larger society.
“Try to ensure you finish any project you want to do, evaluate it first and avoid unfinished or abandoned projects. We will be graduating first degree graduands on Friday while Saturday will be for postgraduates, “he added.
Prof. Onuchukwu also said his administration had achieved a lot since he assumed office as Acting Vice Chancellor, stressing that his administration had improved on the welfare of the staff and the students.
“There are a lot of projects completed in the school; we have also given scholarship to some students and also encouraged departments to do same. We also impacted positively on our host communities”, he said.
Akujobi Amadi
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