Lagos To Establish Care Centres For Working Mothers

LAGOS, August 02, (WMNG) - It is good news to working mothers in Lagos as the Lagos State Government is set to establish day care centres within the State Secretariat for them. This is  in a bid to promote adequate breastfeeding for the children as part of activities celebrating the breastfeeding week. In this regard, other government agencies are also to be encouraged to establish such centres to promote breast feeding in the state.

The State Deputy Governor, Hon. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire dropped the hint while hosting the Committee on Family Nutrition, who were on a courtesy call to the Deputy Governor as part of activities marking the Year 2011 breastfeeding week.

Hon. Adefulire said the establishment of these centres in additional to such existing facilities, is to match words with action in the advocacy of exclusive breastfeeding for children from birth to six months and also in addition to other meals till the age of two and beyond.

She advised working mothers to ensure that they give their children exclusive breastfeeding during maternity leave and also continue when they get back to work, noting that adequate breastfeeding helps reduce diseases in children, which will also reduce infant mortality.
“While it necessary for women to work to support our husband, we must not shy away from our responsibilities to our children; as mothers, we must give adequate care to our children and one of the most important part is breastfeeding,” she added.

Hon. Adefulire added that corporate organizations and other employers of labour should put in place care centres and breastfeeding rooms in their various organizations to provide the necessary environment for working mothers to attend to their children, while not necessarily abandoning their official duties.

The Deputy Governor also added that Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas in the State will be supported towards putting in place care centres and breastfeeding rooms within the council secretariat for the benefit of the working mothers at the local government level, noting that these among others, such as strengthening of the Primary Health Centres, are steps needed to be taken to ensure that the message on importance of breastfeeding is adhered to by mothers.

Hon. Adefulire while admonishing women to take to breastfeeding their babies said it is not only cost free but also increases the mother-child relationship and also prevent malnutrition in children. “Our women must understand the essence of breastfeeding, especially the young mothers, who often times make excuses for not breastfeeding their babies.  We must take time to educate and enlighten them through all mediums of communication on the importance of breastfeeding,” Adefulire added.

She said as an ‘Ambassador of breastfeeding’ she would support and learned her voice to all programmes and events organized for the propagation of the importance of breastfeeding, with a view to ensuring that all women adopt the policy and adequately breastfeed their children.

Earlier in her welcome address, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr (Mrs.) Yewande Adesina, who led the team, said the Year 2011 breastfeeding week with the theme: “Talk to me: breastfeeding a 3D Experience” said the theme is focusing on the communication of breastfeeding issues and practices at various points of service delivery vis-à-vis primary health care facility points, secondary facilities, private hospitals, markets, motor parks and others.

She said the world Breastfeeding Week (WBW) is a global event that is celebrated by over 120 countries of the world including Nigeria annually.  She said the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) categorized exclusive breastfeeding as the first immunization to babies that protect them from childhood killer diseases.

Mrs. Adeshina added that breastfeeding practices remains a high impact intervention which must be supported, protected and promoted by every responsive government in order to ensure the survival as well as adequate growth and development of the child.

She said the team was on a visit to the Deputy Governor to canvass for her moral and physical support and also to decorate her as ‘An Ambassador for propagating the need for our intending and pregnant corporate women to embrace exclusive breastfeeding.