Cross River state government has approved a six-month extended pay-maternity leave for nursing and breastfeeding mothers in the state's workforce.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Henry Ayuk made the disclosure on Monday in Calabar during a press briefing to commemorate the 2024 World Breastfeeding Week.
The World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated annually between August 1 to 7; with the 2024 celebration themed "Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All."
Ayuk said the extension became necessary based on the benefits of breastfeeding to the child, mother and society at large.
He said statistics from UNICEF showed that Nigeria had the second highest burden of stunted children in the world with a national prevalence rate of 32 per cent of children under 5 years which was higher than the average of the African region.
According to him, "an estimated 2 million children in Nigeria are suffering from severe acute malnutrition and only 17 per cent of babies are exclusively breastfed within their first six months of age.
"In Cross River, available data show that 23 per cent of children under 5 years of age are stunted due to acute malnutrition which is of great concern to the state hence its emphasis on breastfeeding and child nutrition.
"To further demonstrate the state commitment a matching fund of N100 million to support the purchase of multiple micronutrients supplementation has been provided by the governor to support the nutrition needs of malnourished children and pregnant mothers," he said.
The Commissioner noted that budgeted funds for the implementation of nutrition programmes have been made more accessible by the present administration.
He added that beside the nutritional needs of the child, exclusive breastfeeding helps in the child's immune system, brain development, prevention of allergies, reduces risk of obesity and maintains healthier growth.
Also speaking, Dr. Bong Duke, Vice Chairman of the State Planning Commission, (SPC), said they were moving to religious, organisations to advocate for the exclusive breastfeeding of babies in the first six months.
Duke, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in SPC, Mbong Ausaji, said the policy thrust of Governor Bassey Otu was to have a healthier citizenry in Nigeria, by 2027.
In a similar vein, a representative of the World Health Organisation, (WHO), Dr. Gloria Archibong, said it has become imperative for all residents of Cross River to unite and support mothers to practice exclusive breastfeeding, positing that if such a practice is upheld, the possibility of Cross River to produce healthier and more intelligent children becomes more likely.
The multi-sectoral collaboration between the State Ministry of Health, SPC and partners galvanized public sensitization and enlightenment through major streets and markets within the ancient city of Calabar, all in a bid to encourage exclusive breastfeeding practice in the state.
