Nursing Mothers In CRS Given Paid Extended Leave On World Breastfeeding Week.

As Cross River State join others in commemorating World Breastfeeding Week, nursing mothers in the state are to benefit from an extended leave with benefits, this is as Statistics from UNICEF indicates that Nigeria has the second-highest burden of stunted children in the world.

The state Commissioner for Health , Dr Henry Egbe Ayuk confirmed the statistics when he briefed the press about the World Breastfeeding Week, WBFW, in his office in Calabar.

“An estimated two 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.”

Ayuk confirmed. The Commissioner said that to commemorate the 2024 World Breastfeeding Week, the state government has approved six months of extended paid maternity leave for nursing and breastfeeding mothers in the state’s workforce, he said that the extension became necessary as the benefits of breastfeeding a child cannot be overemphasized.

“To further demonstrate the state commitment towards breastfeeding, a matching fund of N100 million has been earmarked to support the purchase of multiple micronutrient supplementation.” He added.

Ayuk said that the aim was to support the nutrition needs of malnourished children and pregnant mothers.

Dr. Gloria Archibong, The Representative of WHO, in her speech during the event called on all residents in Cross River to support the mothers to practice exclusive breastfeeding.

According to her, if this was observed, soon every mother would see the need to actually breastfeed their children exclusively for the first six months and this will result in healthier and more intelligent children in Cross River.