By Princess Funsho Sumanu
The Permanent Secretary of Budget and Economic Planning, Mr. Olajide Samuel, has highlighted the crucial role of infant breastfeeding in unlocking optimal child health and development.
He made this statement during a two-day Sub-national Advocacy/Policy Dialogue meeting which focused on Workplace Support for Breastfeeding, Zero Water, and the Code on Breast Milk Substitutes, organized by the Enugu state government in collaboration with UNICEF in Enugu State.
Represented by Mallam Abubakar Musa, the Director of Planning(Macro), the Permanent Secretary emphasized that workplace support for breastfeeding is vital for both maternal and child health. He said our policies and practices must promote breastfeeding, especially within the workplace.
Mr Olajide noted that the primary goal of the meeting was to unite key stakeholders from government, civil society, and the private sector to discuss the challenges and opportunities in promoting breastfeeding, as well as enforcing the Code of Breast Milk Substitutes in the state.
Following productive discussions, several key recommendations emerged, including:
– Development of workplace breastfeeding policies.
– Establishment of a national monitoring system for the enforcement of the Code.
– Increased awareness and education regarding the benefits of breastfeeding and the available support mechanisms.
Additionally, the delegation from Kogi State submitted a comprehensive plan of action which is short, medium, and long-term
Short-Term Goals:
1. The Office of the State Head of Service (HoS) will immediately forward a memo to the State Executive Council to domesticate six (6) months of paid maternity leave, in line with the National Circular.
2. The HoS’s office will also establish two additional crèches at the State Secretariat to support workplace breastfeeding.
3. The State team, led by the HoS, will provide a briefing to the First Lady regarding the outcomes of this high-level engagement.
4. The Governor is expected to give his assent to two important nutrition documents (KG-SPFN & KGS-MSAPFN) by next week.
Medium-Term Approach:*
1. Inclusion of budgetary provisions for breastfeeding support in the annual budgets of all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
2. Recruitment and training of personnel to manage the newly established crèches at the State Secretariat.
3. Creating awareness among stakeholders about the importance of promoting, protecting, and supporting breastfeeding in the workplace.
4. Reactivation of the Local Government Area (LGA) Committee on Breastfeeding Advocacy to align local initiatives with state and national policies.
Long-Term Strategy:
1. Implementation of comprehensive breastfeeding-friendly workplace policies across all sectors, encouraging both public and private organizations to support breastfeeding mothers.
2. Development of a robust and sustainable funding mechanism to support breastfeeding programs and initiatives at all levels of government.
3. Formation of partnerships between the government and civil society organizations to ensure continuous education on the benefits of breastfeeding.
4. Regular monitoring and evaluation of breastfeeding promotion efforts to assess their impact and identify areas for improvement.
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment from all stakeholders to prioritize breastfeeding support as a fundamental public health strategy, understanding that investments in maternal and child health will yield significant returns in the overall well-being of the population.
Mr. Olajide reiterated, “Our children are the future, and ensuring they have the best start in life through breastfeeding is a responsibility we all share. The collaboration between government, civil society, and the private sector is key to making meaningful changes that will enhance child health.
The State delegation was led by the Head of Service Mr Elijah Evinemi and included the Chairman of the State Civil Service Commission Permanent Secretary (Establishment ), Permanent Secretary, Budget and Economic Planning, State Coordinator ANRiN, and the State nutrition officer(SNO).
