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.

Patigi Regatta     Shehu Jimoh     Presidential Election     Kwara 2019     Saidu Kawu     Mustapha AbdulGaniyu     Abdullahi Adisa Akodudu     Rebecca Olanrewaju     Nigerian Army     Centre For Community Empowerment And Poverty Eradication     Towoju     Muhammad Ghali Alaaya     RTEAN     Oba David Oyerinola Adedunmoye     Ayegbeni     Yakub Lai Gobir     Yekini Adio     All Confederation Of Principals Of Secondary Schools     Lithium     Galadima     Aisha Ahman Pategi     Kumbi Titiloye     Kwara State Fire Service     Olatunde Oyeyiola     Olaiya Zuberu     Yemi Osinbajo     Okin Malt     Aminat Ahmed     Surajudeen Akanbi     Share     Kazeem Adekanye     Marufat Oladosu     Muhammed Akanbi     Shehu Salau     Taofik Abdulkareem Babaita     KSIRS     NaAllah     Ibrahim Abikan     AbdulQowiy Olododo     Police Commissioner     Abdulkareem Alabi     Muhammad Fawaz Abubakar     Vishvas KOZ Tractors     Millennium Development Goals     Tinubu     Abubakar Abdullahi Bata     Patience Jonathan     Kolawole Bashirat     Chief Imam Of Omu-Aran     Ayeyemi Sulaiman     Abdulrazaq Sanni     Gani Saadu     Alumni Association Of The Federal Polytechnic Offa     Alabe     Razak Atunwa     Aishat Mohammed Lawal     April 11     Razaq Atunwa     National Broadcasting Commission     Amuda Aluko     Bio Ibrahim     Opobiyi     Timothy Olatunde Fadipe     Agor Market     Clara Nwachukwu     Onilu     Yusuf Amuda Aluko     Olawuyi     Abdulkadir Remi Hawawu     Ahmed Dankaya     Jeunkunu-Malete-Bani     Ilorin International Airport     Oba Abdulrahim     Bayer AG     Jimoh Akani     Abubakar Ndakene     Muazam Nayaya    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Adolescent Girls Initiative For Learning And Empowerment     Okanlawon Taiwo     Ibrahim Kayode Adeyemi     Aremu Odolaye     Shonga     Mohammed Kamaludeen     Funmilayo Braithwaite     Akande Idowu Ayoola Muhammed     Budo Egba     Ogbondoroko     Abdulkadir Akanbi-Oke     Ben Duntoye     Inside Kwara     Akom Construction And Engineering Synergy Ltd     Trade Lenda SME Fair     Eghe Igbinehi     Babatunde Idiagbon     George Funsho Adebayo     Olabode Towoju     Abdullahi Adisa Akodudu     Neo Mundo Ltd     Taofeeq Olateju     Amosa     Crystal Corner Shops     Rasaq Jimoh     Toun Okewale-Sonaiya     Elelu     Olatunde Oyeyiola     Omar Bolaji Gambari     Oba Abu     Olota Of Odo-Owa     Benin Republic     Abatemi-Usman     Sulyman Atolagbe Alege     Kwara State Fire Service     Abdulquawiy Olododo     Ayodele Shittu     Elekoyangan     Ramadan     Maryam Nurudeen     Quareeb     Sabo-Oke     Onilorin     Sunday Otokiti     Federal Polytechnic Offa     Park     Bolaji Nagode     Olaitan Adefila     Florence Saraki     Abdulahi Abubakar Bata     KWATMA     A.G.F Abdulrasaq     Simeon Sule Ajibola     Taofik Mustapha     Ndama Al-hassan     Iyaloja-General     Suraj Tunji Oyewale     Bayer Nigeria Limited     Saheed Popoola     NIPR     Igbomina     Adanla-Irese     AbdulRazaq AbduMajeed Alaro     Dauda Adeniran Adeshola     Moses Afolayan     Ahmed \'Lateef     Lukman Adeloyin     Sunday Fagbemi     Ajibike Katibi     Split Diamond Interchange     Suleiman Idris     Bamidele Adegoke     GAMA     Joseph Offorjama     Basit Olatunji     Garba Ado Sanni     Aremu Bose Deborah