WBW, UNICEF, and WHO calls for extension of paid maternity leave

Developing and enforcing laws restricting the marketing of breastmilk substitutes, including digital marketing practices, and monitoring to routinely report code violations have been identified as some of the ways to encourage exclusive breastfeeding.

There is also a need to increase investment in programmes and policies that protect and support breastfeeding through dedicated national budgets.

The United Nation’s Children’s Fund’s UNICEF Country Representative in Nigeria, Cristian Munduate, explained that implementing and monitoring family-friendly workplace policies, such as paid maternity leave, breastfeeding breaks, and access to affordable and good-quality childcare, would also help in achieving the set goals.

It is on record that, in the last 12 years, the number of infants under six months of age who are exclusively breastfed in Nigeria increased by more than 10 percent, and today, 34 percent of infants in Nigeria benefit from that healthy start in life, which means that hundreds of thousands of babies lives have been saved through breastfeeding.

Munduate noted that “while this significant leap brings us closer to the World Health Organisation target of increasing exclusive breastfeeding to at least 50 percent by 2025, there are persistent challenges that must be addressed.”.

“To close these gaps, the government, employers, healthcare providers, and communities need to collaborate. Policies should be enacted to extend paid maternity leave, create breastfeeding-friendly workplaces, and provide comprehensive breastfeeding education and support services.”.

“Breastfeeding is the foundation of lifelong health and well-being. It is a simple, cost-effective, and natural way to provide infants with the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development”, said Cristian Munduate.  “However, despite its proven benefits, exclusive breastfeeding rates in Nigeria remain low. Many mothers face cultural, social, and practical barriers that prevent them from breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months of their child’s life”.

 According to her, during the critical period of early growth and development, the antibodies in breastmilk protect babies against illness and death. This is especially important during emergencies, when breastfeeding guarantees a safe, nutritious, and accessible food source for infants and young children, emphasising that ” Breastfeeding reduces the burden of childhood illness and the risk of certain types of cancers and non-communicable diseases for mothers “.

” This World Breastfeeding Week, under the theme “Closing the gap: Breastfeeding support for all,” UNICEF and WHO are emphasising the need to improve breastfeeding support as a critical action for reducing health inequity and protecting the rights of mothers and babies to survive and thrive “. She stated

Munduate announced that, this year, UNICEF supported Nigeria in setting the world record for the highest number of lactating mothers breastfeeding simultaneously. 30,000 mothers will breastfeed their babies across all 36 states in Nigeria and the FCT on August 1st, 2024.

This initiative she stressed and I quote, ” not only aims for a record but also seeks to draw attention to the importance of breastfeeding, as well as challenge harmful nutrition norms and practices, specifically the introduction of water and other pre-lacteal feeds during the first six months of a baby’s life “.

So, to support progress, data needs to be available on policy actions that make breastfeeding possible such as family friendly employment policies, regulation of the marketing of breastmilk substitutes, and investment in breastfeeding. Improving monitoring systems will help boost the effectiveness of breastfeeding policies and programmes, inform better decision-making, and ensure support systems can be adequately financed.

” When breastfeeding is protected and supported, women are more than twice as likely to breastfeed their infants. This is a shared responsibility. Families, communities, healthcare workers, policymakers, and other decision-makers all play a central role by:  

Ensuring mothers who are at-risk in emergencies or under-represented communities receive breastfeeding protection and support in line with their unique needs, including timely, effective breastfeeding counselling as part of routine health coverage.”. She added.

Julie Ekong