Prevalence of workplace challenges identified as barriers to breastfeeding, early cessasion

<p>It has been observed that one of the primary barriers to breastfeeding or early cessation of breastfeeding is the prevalence of workplace challenges.</p>, <p>The observation was made by the Chief of Field, UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, Dr Tushar Rane in a goodwill message at the 2023 World Breastfeeding Week activities held at the premises of State Secretariat, Bauchi on Wednesday.</p>, <p>According to him, Women require sufficient time and support to breastfeed successfully noting that women with less than three months of maternity leave tend to have shorter breastfeeding durations than those with three or more months of leave.</p>, <p>Represented by Philomena Irene, Nutrition Specialist, UNICEF Nigeria, the chief of field office said, “These statements highlight the objectives of the 2023 WBW and emphasize the importance of workplace support for breastfeeding, as well as the impact of the zero water campaign on improving exclusive breastfeeding rates in the country.”</p>, <p>He stressed that the 1999 Federal Republic of Nigeria Constitution, the 2008 Public Service Rules, and the 2004 Nigeria Labour Law all recognise and assent to the provision of maternity entitlements.</p>, <p>He added that Nigeria currently implements two maternity entitlement provisions: The first, recognised at all levels of public service and codified in the Nigerian Labour Act, provides up to 12 weeks of maternity leave with at least 50% of salary and, upon return to work, half an hour twice a day during working hours to breastfeed.</p>, <p>The second, recently adopted by the Federal Public Service and yet to be ratified by the states and local government civil service, is a 16-week maternity leave provision with full pay and two hours off each day to breastfeed up to six months after the employee resumes duty.</p>, <p>Tusha Rane said that in addition to these domestic policies, the Government of Nigeria has signed on to the International Labour Organization Maternity Protection Convention, 2000 (No. 183) and its accompanying Recommenda