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.

Sardauna Of Ilorin     Ademola Kiyesola     Abdulbaqi Jimoh     EFCC     Folashade Omoniyi     Olaiya Victor Mobolaji     Mohammed Alabi Lawal     Niguel Gallando Marcias     Olaiya Zuberu     Arik     Eghe Igbinehin     Mahfouz Adedimeji     Garba Ado Sanni     Idris Amosa Oladipo Saidu     Rotimi Samuel Olujide     Abdulmajeed Wahab     Ibrahim Abdulkadir Abikan     Yashikira     Elelu     Umar Adelodun     Elections     Abdulwaheed Musa     Rotimi Oyedepo     Shururat Olatinwo     Ahmad Olayiwola Kamaldeen     John Kehinde Salako     VADA     Oniwasi Agbaye     Bukola Saraki     Rasaq Jimoh     Saka Balikis Kehinde     Kwara North     Kwara Liberation Group     Offorjama     David Oyepinola Adedumoye     John Olajide Adedipe     Yusuf Lanre Badmus     CACOVID     Ibrahim Akaje     Ayotunde Emmanuel Alao     Saadatu Modibbo-Kawu     Olohungbebe     Oniyangi Kunle Sulaiman     Clement Yomi Adeboye     Hijab     Presidential Election     Monkey Pox     Smart School     IEDPU     Taofeek Sanusi     Mansurat Amuda-Kannike     Bayo Ajia     Abdullahi AbdulMajeed     Marufat Oladosu     Ahmad Uthman     Shuaib Jawondo     Abdulganiyu Oladosu     Bahago     Odolaye Aremu     Sambo Murtala     Tunde Yusuf     Illyasu Abdullahi     A.G.F Abdulrasaq     Ubandoma Of Ilorin     Shoprite     Olatinwo     Roheemat Hammed     Yakubu Danladi     MATTA Girls Foundation     Kwara State Television     Nurudeen Mohammed     Imodoye Writer’s Enclave     Ekiti     Mamman Saba Jibril     Bamikole Omishore     Osuwa     Umar Yakubu Jaja    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Kola Bukoye     Islamic Development Bank     Balogun Ajikobi     Aisha Abodunrin Ibrahim     Kwara State Council Of Chiefs     Igbomina     Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa     Mukhtar Shagaya     Isaac Gbenle     Shero     Mahfouz Adedimeji     Rebecca Olanrewaju     Suleiman Idris     Saka Aleshinloye     Jelili Yusuf     Suleiman Alege Kuranga     Malete     Okanlawon Taiwo     Edu     Mohammed Katsina Ahmed     Yusuf Lanre Badmas     Saad Belgore     Mahmud Ajeigbe     Kunle Akogun     Kwara NIPR     Ndama Al-hassan     Abubakar Abdulraheem     Danhawa     Michael Ologundea     Adamu Ibrahim Sabi     Clement Yomi Adeboye     Taiwo Joseph     John Olajide Adedipe     Valsolar Consortium     Prince Bola Ajibola     National Union Of Road Transport Workers     Lanre Badmas     Mohammed Yisa     Yusuf Badmus     Oke-Ero     Peter Obi     Oke-opin     Oko Erin     AbdulGaniyu Kareem     Saadu Yusuf     Abdulrahman Abdulrazak     Junior Secondary School Certificate Examinations     John Dara     Kwara Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board     Asiwaju Bola Tinubu     Ahmed Mohammed Rifun     Yashikira     Kolo     Olayinka Jelili Yusuf     Omotoso Musa     NITDA     Afeyin-Olukuta     Kwara State Geographic Information Service     Babatunde Idiagbon     Alabere     Kwara Volleyball Association     Baba Adini Of Kwara State     Oluranti Idowu     Haleeman Salman     Yomi Ogunsola     Sobi Specialist Hospital     Onilu     Ahmed Idris Mohammed     Erubu     HICA     All Confederation Of Principals Of Secondary Schools     Afolabi-Oshatimehin Adenike Harriet     Olayinka Olaogun     Aso-ofi     Dar-Al-Handasah Consultants     Tunji Olawuyi     Bamidele Adegoke Oladimeji