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.

Tanke Flyover Bridge     Vasolar Consultoria     Ishaq Oloyede     Moshood Bakare     Al-Ilory     Ramat Oganija     Shehu Alimi Foundation     Gabriel Fashanu     Mohammed Ghali Alaaya     Basit Olatunji     John Kehinde Salako     Madawaki     Gamji Members Association     Imodoye Writer’s Enclave     Pilgrims Board     KFA     AbdulGaniyu Kareem     Plat Technologies Limited     Ilorin Anchor Men And Women     Aso-ofi     Laduba     Pakata     Yaru     Sunset Workers     Babatunde Idiagbon     Hassan Saliu     Read With Me     Yahaya Dumoye     Yeketi     Sherif Sagaya     Inside Kwara     Mahmud Ajeigbe     Ibrahim Abdulkadir Abikan     Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission     Kwara Primary Health Care Development Agency     March 18     Special Agro-industrial Processing Zone     Okin Group     Ella Supreme Tissue Paper     Jimoh Saadudeen Muhammed     Kwara State Branch Of The National Library     Olaiya Victor Mobolaji     Balikis Jawondo     Hassan Taiye Salam     Abdullateef Abdussalam     Anilelerin     Shuaib Jawondo     Kwara State Coalition Of Business And Professional Associations     SSA Youth Engagement     Ahman Pategi University     Atiku Abubakar     Abdulkadir Remi Hawawu     AbdulGafar Tosho     Mopelola Abdulmaliq-Bashir     Ibrahim Abikan     Jaigbade Alao     Kwara State Fish Farmers Association     Ebola     Adisa Logun     Adedipe     Aiyedun     Ahmad Olanrewaju Belgore     Idowu Aremu     Yusuf Arowosaye     Nnazua     Royal FM     Oloriegbe     Yemi Sanni     Moronfoye     Otunba Taiwo Joseph     Muslim Stakeholders Of Kwara State     Suleman Abubakar     George Funsho Adebayo     QuickWin     Edret Sabi Abel     David Oyepinola Adedumoye     Okeose Christian Cementary    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Matthew Okedare     Abdulrasaq Alaro     Ibrahim Abikan     Haruna Tambiri Mohammed     Esinniobiwa Quareeb     Alaiye     Earlyon Technologies     Abdulazeez Arowona     Monsurat Omotosho     Oba Mogaji Abdulkadir     Musibau Akanji     Atiku     Tunde Mukaila Mustapha     Valsolar-Kwara Company Limited     Ilorin Curfew     Micheal Imoudu     KWASAA     Aminu Adisa Logun     Toyin Saraki     Ariyo     Ilorin West/Asa Federal Constituency     Durosinlohun Kawu     Abdullateef Abdussalam     Niyi Ogundiran     Kwara State Infrastructure Development Fund     Arinola Fatimoh Lawal     Ilorin Emirate Stakeholders Forum     Sabi     Lateef Ademola Olatunji     Azeez Salawu     Aliyu Muhammed     Oyin-Zubair     Ahmad Fatima Bisola     Ayotunde Emmanuel Alao     Christian Association Of Nigeria     Babata     Government High School (GHS), Adeta     Oniyangi     Nigerian Army     Saka Asiat Ayinke     Abdulazeez Uthman     General Hospital     Ibrahim Jawondo     Oyawoye     Abdulrosheed Okiki     Kwara Restoration Project     Omotoso Musa     Baba Idris     SARS     NTA Ilorin     Kawu     Umar Saro     Apaola     SSUCOEN     Saka Aleshinloye     Kwara Primary Health Care Development Agency     Sam Okaula     Surajudeen Akanbi     Kumbi Titilope     Shehu Alimi Foundation For Peace And Development     Jare Olatundun     Mutawali     Zubair Folorunsho Erubu     John Obuh     Oyedun Juliana Funke     Abdulquawiy Olododo     Kwara Central     Olaoye B. Felix     Muslim Stakeholders Of Kwara State     Saraki     Funmi Salau     MAI Akande     Kayode Bankole     Haleeman Salman     Coalition Of Kwara North Groups     Victor Gbenga Yusuf     Council Of The Wise