An NGO, Alkhairi Orphanage and Women Development, has urged Kano state government and private employers to grant six months maternity leave for nursing mothers to enable them get enough time to do exclusive breastfeeding of their babies.
Similarly, the group called on employers to give three months paternity leave so that fathers can support mothers while breastfeeding their babies.
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The Executive Director of the group, Hajiya Rukayya Abdurraham made the call during a sensitization program to commemorate the world breastfeeding week at Garangamawa primary health care in Gwale Local Government area of Kano State.
According to her, world breastfeeding week is a global campaign aimed at raising awareness about breastfeeding practices and policies for babies and mothers.
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She added that the week is observed in the first week of August annually.
“We are here at Garangamawa primary health care to commemorate the world breastfeeding week, in order to create space for breastfeeding mothers in their workplace and for the entire community to support women towards breastfeeding their babies.”
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“Initially, most of the women in Kano don’t even believe in exclusive breastfeeding, tradition is playing a key role in stopping mothers from practicing exclusive breastfeeding.
“But now with the sensitization we conduct almost every three months and also commemorating the world breastfeeding week, we have a lot of turnout, which most nursing mothers now believe that exclusive breastfeeding is very important.”
