Abia State Approves Extended Parental Leave to Promote Exclusive Breastfeeding

The Abia State Government has introduced a new policy granting six months of paid maternity leave for nursing mothers and three weeks for nursing fathers, as part of efforts to promote exclusive breastfeeding and strengthen family bonding.

The announcement was made by the First Lady, Mrs. Priscilla Otti, during her speech at the World Breastfeeding Week event held at the Abia State Children’s Specialist Hospital in Umuahia. Mrs. Otti emphasized that the extended leave aims to support couples in bonding with their newborns and fostering harmony in households. She urged fathers to use the leave to assist with domestic chores, allowing mothers to focus on caring for their babies.

The First Lady reiterated the state’s commitment to creating mother-friendly workplace policies, including the establishment of creches in public and private institutions. During the event, she unveiled a new creche at the State High Court headquarters in Umuahia, which she personally equipped to ensure a safe, welcoming, and nurturing environment for children. Another creche is under development at the workers’ state secretariat in Ogurube Layout.

Highlighting this year’s World Breastfeeding Week theme, “Prioritize Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems,” Mrs. Otti noted that supporting breastfeeding contributes to a sustainable environment and helps mitigate climate change impacts. She described breastfeeding as “nature’s way of providing optimal nutrition and care,” underscoring its health and economic benefits for both mothers and babies.

The Commissioner for Health, Professor Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, speaking at the event, called breastfeeding a “shared responsibility” and urged communities to support exclusive breastfeeding. He emphasized that breast milk provides all essential nutrients for infants, laying the foundation for proper nutrition from birth.