No Yobe law bans breastfeeding mothers in work places - SSG

Yobe SSG, Baba Malam Wali mni with an exclusively fed baby at the World Breastfeeding week in Damaturu, with ES YSPHB, Dr. Kundi Machina watching.

Secretary to Yobe State Government, Baba Malam Wali said he is not aware of any laws in the state the prohibits breastfeeding mothers in work places in the State.

 

Baba Malam Wali who was fielding questions from journalists as part of the occasion to mark the World Breastfeeding Week in the state said the state is working very hard to encourage the culture of  exclusive breast feeding by mothers.

 

Yobe State, he added has taken the sensitization campaign seriously by ensuring that friendly environment are provided for breastfeeding mothers especially the working class mothers, as well as sensitization visits on stakeholders in order to scale up the awareness.

 

The SSG regretted the low percentage of breastfeeding in the state, which he explained is as low as  12.6%, while attributing the low percentage to the current COVID -19 pandemic.

 

“Yobe State breastfeeding initiation rate is very low at 12.6% and despite international recommendations and a lot of efforts in the field, only 27.3% of all babies under 6 months are exclusively breastfed and 22% continue breastfeeding up to 24 months,” Baba Malam Wali explained.

 

He added that, “Increasing our support to optimal breastfeeding according to the recommendations could prevent many child and maternal deaths in the state. Together, we can achieve a win-win situation for humanity and the planet by aligning national and international policies and guidance on breastfeeding and infant and young child feeding with the SDG agenda and other environmental climate initiatives, raise awareness among decision makers to recognize the contribution of breastfeeding to food security and environmental sustainability and the need to invest,  sensitize journalist and the media to stimulate public debate on the links between breastfeeding and the environment climate change, engage school children, students, youth and social media influencers to spread awareness of the importance of breastfeeding for N planetary earth 2020/8/10,” he said.

 

This year’s breastfeeding has its theme: "Support World Breastfeeding Week for a Healthier Planet".

 

Gifts were presented to two breastfeeding mothers  by the SSG as part of the event.

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