Governor Abdulrazaq Encourages Female Civil Servants to Take Full Advantage of Six-Month Maternity Leave

Date: 2024-08-09

According to a news report from Voice of Nigeria, Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has urged female civil servants to make the most of the six-month maternity leave approved by the state government to breastfeed their babies.

Governor AbdulRazaq offered this advice during the launch of the State Policy on Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) and the State Guidelines on Baby-Friendly Initiatives (BFI).

He reminded attendees that in 2023, the state government introduced a six-month paid maternity leave policy for female civil servants, emphasizing the importance of this period for maternal and infant health.

“The state government in collaboration with the World Bank on the Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN) project provided a Basic Package of Nutrition Services (BPNS) to children under five years.”

Governor AbdulRazaq who was represented by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina El-Imam said it also includes pregnant and lactating women across Primary Health Centers and communities in the 16 Local Government Areas.

He observed that optimal nutrition is important for the normal growth and development of all humans.

“However, children and pregnant and breastfeeding mothers require additional attention for their health and well-being.

“A child's first 1,000 days of life, from conception till their second birthday, is the most critical period of brain development when all efforts and interventions must be deployed to prevent wasting or stunting.

“Stunted children do not perform well in school, resulting in drop-outs and poor bargaining power later in life,” he said.

AbdulRazaq declared nutrition as a health issue and also a major human capital development and economic concern.

He pledged that the state government will continue to invest in nutrition, as it gives children a head start in life and should therefore be a priority because of its consequences for development and social stability.

“The state government has recently inaugurated the State Committee on Food and Nutrition (SCFN) in line with the recommendation of the National Council on Nutrition, with adequate funding to coordinate multisectoral approach to addressing malnutrition,” he said.

Also speaking, the wife of the Kwara State Governor, Prof Olufolake AbdulRazaq explained that breastfeeding is the most effective way to ensure a child's health, and survival.

She added that it provides essential nutrients, enhances brain-development, and strengthens the immune system.

“Promoting exclusive breastfeeding encourage mothers to exclusively breastfeed their babies for the first six months of life.

“Exclusive breastfeeding can prevent malnutrition, reduce child mortality, and promote cognitive development,” she said.

Prof AbdulRazaq reiterated that the government will continue to support health facilities and training of healthcare workers and educating mothers about the benefits of breastfeeding and proper infant feeding practices.

Also in her address, the Kwara Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina El-Imam represented by the Permanent Secretary, Hajia Afusat Ibrahim, explained that the MIYCN policy is a comprehensive approach to improving the nutritional status of women and children in Kwara.

She added that it addresses the nutritional needs of mothers during pregnancy and lactation and the needs of infants and young children up to the age of five.

 

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Chikanda     Yahaya Muhammad     Garment Factory     NAWOJ     Col. Adedipe     Ojuekun     Suleiman Rotimi Iliasu     Stephen Fasakin     Habeeb Saidu     Towobola Abdulrahman Toyin     Ibrahim Agboola Gambari     GANZY     Ayedun     Pakata     Ayodele Olaosebikan     Undergraduate Bursary     Kamaldeen Gambari     Oro Grammar School Old Students Association     Ahmed Mohammed Rifun     Pius Abioje     Bolakale Saka     Mohammed Yisa     Kwarareports     Saad Omo Iya     Zulu Gambari     Gobirawa     Kola Olota     Isiaka Danmeromu     Ajibola Saliu Ajia     Baboko Primary School     Doyin Agbamu     Jalala     Oba David Oyerinola Adedunmoye     NIPR     Oja-Oba     Arandun     Lanwa     Ajidagba     Omupo     Tunde Idiagbon Road     Isaac Aderemi Kolawole     Saka Adeyemo     Sodiya     AbdulGafar Tosho     Sulu Babaita Isiaka     Bashir Badawi     3MTT     Shonga Farm Project     Iyabo Adisa Ibiyeye     Olaiya Victor Mobolaji     Mohammed Lawal Bagega     Ayo Salami     Lanre Jimoh     Sam Onile     Bamidele Aluko     Ramat Oganija     AbdulRazaq Jiddah     Abdulfatah Ahmed     Haliru Dantoro     Babatunde Idiagbon     Adanla-Irese     Ibikunle Ogunleye     Kwara State Sports Commission     Read With Me     Peter Obi     Kwara State Internal Revenue Service     Musibau Akanji     Al-Hikmah Radio     Umar Adelodun     Saliu Oluwole     Oyun     Bello Bature     Rasaq Jimoh     Abdulbaqi Jimoh     Sarah Jubril     Aminat Ahmed     Amosa    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Kayode Ibrahim     Young Progressives Party     Abubakar B.M     Salihu Ajia     Fulani     Abdulrazaq Sanni     Saraki     Shururat Olatinwo     Elerin Of Erin-Ile     Salihu Jibril Garbi     Shoprite     Abdulrahman Iliasu     Funmilayo Zubair     Abubakar Ndakene     Olatunji Bamgbola     IPSAS     Lanre Jimoh     Noah Yusuf     Michael Nzekwe     Bashirat Bola Bello     Javed Khan     Salihu Ajibola Ajia     Abraysports FC     Ibrahim Mohammed     All Confederation Of Principals Of Secondary Schools     Kwara State Fire Service     Arinola Fatimoh Lawal     Samuel Olusegun Adedayo     Quareeb     Jimoh Akani     Bilikisu Gambari     Okin High School     Yekini Adio     Yusuf Aiyedun     Surajudeen Akanbi     Logun     Alimi     Adamu Ibrahim Sabi     Isiaka Oniwa     Hakeem Idris     Laboratory-to-Product     Apata Ajele Secondary School     Elese Of Igbaja     Mohammed Khadijat Kubura     Age AbdulKareem     Nnazua     Forgo Battery     CELF     Allocation     Bayo Ajia     Segun Abifarin     Labour Party     VADA     11th Galadima     Government High School Adeta     Gbenga Awoyale     Al-Hikmah Radio     Demola Banu     Bello Oyebanji     Nurudeen Muhammed     Ilorin     Ayobami Seriki     Oladipo Akanmu Tolani     College Of Education     Salami Adekunle     National Association Of Nigerian Students     IFK     Facebook     JUSUN     Ndama Al-hassan     International Public Sector Accounting Standards     Abdulraheem Olesin     Biliaminu Aliu     Oyawoye     Mohammed Kamaludeen     Iyabo Dupe Adekeye     Oloye