EKITI FIRST LADY ADVOCATES BREASTFEEDING FACILITIES AT WORKPLACES

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Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, has canvassed for the provision of facilities for nursing mothers to breastfeed their babies at workplaces to allow for the practice of exclusive breastfeeding.

Dr. Oyebanji urged banks and other corporate organizations to give nursing mothers in their employment and their babies a sense of belonging by providing them opportunities and facilities to practise exclusive breastfeeding.

The Ekiti First Lady who made the call on Wednesday during the flag-off ceremony of the 2023 World Breastfeeding Week held in her office in Ado Ekiti also urged husbands of breastfeeding mothers in Ekiti State to utilize the two-week Paternity Leave approved for by the state government to assist their wives in taking care of their baby.

She explained that apart from the six-month Maternity Leave approved for mothers of newborn babies to be away from work, government also thought it wise to give their husbands two-week Paternity Leave to allow fathers and mothers of newborn babies give them full attention to aid their growth.

Enumerating the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding, Dr. Oyebanji who revealed she practised exclusive breastfeeding for all her kids at the stage of infancy noting that the practice develops the mental faculties of babies, gives them immunity from diseases, facilitates bonding between babies and mothers.

She urged the leaders of market women present at the occasion to take the campaign for exclusive breastfeeding to marketplaces for their young members to key into the practice for their own good and for the good of their babies.

Reiterating the theme for this year's World Breastfeeding Week, "Enabling Breastfeeding: Making a Difference for Working Parents," Dr. Oyebanji made a strong case for the provision of opportunities and facilities for breastfeeding female workers within their working environment for their babies not to be denied the rights to breast milk needed for their growth at infancy.

Dr. Oyebanji said: "This year’s theme focuses on breastfeeding and work, providing a strategic opportunity to advocate for essential maternity rights that support breastfeeding i.e. paid six months maternity leave and paternity leave, including providing a Mother-Friendly work place accommodation like breastfeeding room or mother’s room after returning to work from maternity leave. These will ensure women are able to breastfeed for as long as they wish to."

Speaking earlier, the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Oyebanji Filani, remarked that it is critical and important for the government and people of Ekiti State to continue to propagate the importance of breastfeeding describing the first six months as "very critical to the growth of the child."

Dr. Filani said government would always continue to engage the people of the state on programmes that allow children to develop in health and wellness for Ekiti to be a reference point in infant and maternal health in the comity of states in Nigeria.

Representative of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Adedayo Isaac, hailed the state government for its commitment to issues of infant and maternal health commending the First Lady for championing the campaign for exclusive breastfeeding in the state.

Dr. Esther Akinsoto of the state chapter of the Association of Women Doctors at the ceremony noted that conducive environment helps lactation better advocating for more intensive enlightenment of the populace.

The event was attended by nursing mothers who came with their babies, health officials, and representatives of market women association led by their state president, Chief Habibat Ogunjobi.

Gifts were distributed to the Nursing mothers and their babies at the end of the programme by the wife of the Governor.

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