CSSUN, UNICEF Advocate 6 Months Maternity Leave For Mothers In Gombe

BY NAJIB SANI, GOMBE

The Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition (CSSUN) and the United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) have re-echoed calls on the Gombe state government to grant nursing mothers six months maternity leave.

This call was made by the CSSUN’s state coordinator Mrs Comfort Amos Mukollo along side some members of coalition on scaling up nutrition while on an advocacy visit to the office of the Gombe state head of civil service.

She lamented the prevalence of malnutrition among children in the state and stressed that fighting the situation requires the support all sectors of the state.

The coordinator explained that the coalition which was formed since 2017 has been working towards ensuring that malnutrition is drastically reduced in the state adding that apart from the advocacy to relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, they also carry out nutrition education at health facilities, house hold trainings to women groups as well as food demonstration on how to use readily available farm produce to prepare cheaper and healthy foods for their families.

She expressed belief that formulation of a policy for six months paid maternity leave for the nursing mothers would be of immense benefit to mothers and the children, and contribute to building a healthier and prosperous society.

Mrs Comfort noted that the early months of a child’s life are pivotal for nurturing, bonding and providing essential nutrition through breastfeeding, hence the need for the six months maternity leave to allow mothers exclusively breastfeed for the recommended six months.

She therefore solicited for the support and consideration of the head of service in advocating for and implementing the policy which is in conformity with the global best practices.