Enugu State Govt' Approves 3 Weeks Paternity Leave for Husbands

THE government of Enugu State led by Mr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has amended its Civil Service rules by granting three weeks paternity leave to husbands who are civil servants whose wives put to bed while the nursing mother will enjoy six months maternity leave.Before now, female workers who gave birth were entitled to three months maternity leave while their husbands were not entitled to any leave as obtained in other States of the federation.
State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sam Ngwu who announced this said that the new policy would meant” to strengthen the family as a social unit and also promote mother and child welfare”.
While unveiling plans to mark this year’s Breast Feeding Week in the State, Ngwu explained that the extension of the maternity leave would encourage nursing mothers in the state to engage in the internationally recommended four to six months exclusive breast feeding of newborn babies.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Moses Otiji, the Commissioner said nursing mothers should be allowed to continuously breast feed their babies anywhere they work, whether in the private or public sector.
He added that “The week is dedicated to draw the attention of the public on the need for exclusive breast feeding which contains yellow milk that contains most of the vital ingredients for healthy growth of the baby”.
Coordinator of Baby Friendly Initiative, Enugu State Ministry of Health, Mrs. Pauline Enenwali few days ago lamented that no fewer than 15 children die in Enugu daily due to poor nutrition, noting that it was not an excuse for nursing mothers not to feed their babies exclusively on breast milk.
Enenwali further told reporters that “the health indices on exclusive breastfeeding in the State were so poor that not less than 5,000 babies died annually arising from malnutrition while the prevalence of malnutrition stood at 30.6 per cent”.