Source: All Africa
Catholic Christian mothers on Sunday called on the Federal Government to increase maternity leave from four months to six months to encourage exclusive breastfeeding by nursing mothers.
Speaking at the seminar, CCM President, Mrs Christiana Ogbonna noted that only an extension of the maternity period could encourage proper breastfeeding by nursing mothers.
"The government should extend the maternity period so that mothers can have time to breastfeed their babies before they go back to work," she said.
Contributing, Mrs Fidelia Akuiwu, a matron, advised nursing mothers who work in hospitals against bringing their babies to work.
"Women working within hospital environment should not bring their babies to work for medical reasons; instead, they should extract breast milk if no other option was available," Akuiwu said.
She added that an extension of the maternity period by the government would be the best option to encourage breast feeding.
Another speaker, Mrs Bridget Ekemezie said that providing crèches in workplaces would also encourage breastfeeding.
"The government should consider allowing nursing mothers come to office with their babies to keep a close watch on them," she said.
On her part, Mrs Juliet Iheboro suggested that nursing mothers should close early for at least eight months after child birth.
"Mothers should close earlier so that they can have time to attend to their babies with proper breastfeeding," she said
The Federal Government recently increased maternity leave from three to four months.
The seminar was organised in commemoration of the 2011 breastfeeding week.
NAN