Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The Abia State Government has approved six months of paid maternity leave for nursing mothers in the state.
Similarly, it has granted three weeks of paternity leave for nursing fathers, with the condition that they must spend the leave at home to support their wives.
Abia First Lady, Mrs. Priscilla Otti, announced this on Tuesday during the World Breastfeeding Week event held at the Abia State Children’s Specialist Hospital, Umuahia.
She said the measure is part of the state’s deliberate efforts to promote exclusive breastfeeding.
According to her, the initiative also aims to enable couples to bond with their newborns and foster peace and harmony in the home.
Mrs. Otti urged fathers to use the leave to assist their wives with domestic chores, enabling the mothers to concentrate fully on caring for their babies.
The First Lady reiterated the state government’s commitment to promoting mother-friendly workplace policies, including the establishment of crèches in both public and private institutions.
She encouraged nursing mothers to embrace exclusive breastfeeding due to its numerous health and economic benefits.
“Breastfeeding is nature’s way of providing optimal nutrition and care to children. It is a beautiful role of women in every society and a vital aspect of motherhood that benefits both mothers and babies,” Mrs. Otti said.
The Governor’s wife also unveiled a crèche built at the State High Court headquarters in Umuahia and announced that another crèche had been established at the workers’ secretariat in Ogurube Layout.
She stated that she had personally provided the furnishings and equipment for the High Court crèche to ensure the space is functional, welcoming, safe, and nurturing for children.
Mrs. Otti revealed the theme of this year’s World Breastfeeding Week as: “Prioritize Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems,” emphasizing its focus on environment and climate change.
She said, “When breastfeeding is protected, promoted, and supported, a sustainable environment is created, which helps mitigate the impacts of climate change.”
Also speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Health, Professor Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, described breastfeeding as a shared societal responsibility and urged everyone to support exclusive breastfeeding.
He emphasized that exclusive breastfeeding should be encouraged because proper nutrition begins at birth, noting that breast milk contains all the nutrients a baby needs.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of the Abia State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Kalu Ulu Kalu, expressed concern that many nursing mothers still do not embrace exclusive breastfeeding despite its numerous benefits.
“It’s disheartening that despite the well-known benefits of breast milk and breastfeeding, many mothers still do not embrace this initiative—the best child survival strategy,” he said.
Dr. Kalu added that the state is committed to promoting exclusive breastfeeding through various initiatives, including health worker training and community engagement.
