Taraba Nursing Mothers to Receive Six Months Paid Maternity Leave

The Executive Secretary of the Taraba State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Nuhu Tukura, has announced that a bill proposing six months of paid maternity leave for nursing mothers is currently under consideration by the Taraba State House of Assembly. This initiative is part of the state government's effort to promote exclusive breastfeeding.

Dr. Tukura highlighted that the agency, in collaboration with international organizations like UNICEF, has made significant progress in promoting six months of exclusive breastfeeding across primary healthcare centers in the state.

Despite Nigeria's national data showing an improvement in the rate of exclusive breastfeeding to 30%, this figure remains below the World Health Organization's (WHO) target of 50%. Exclusive breastfeeding is identified as a key factor in reducing infant mortality rates, and Taraba State is aiming to increase its numbers further.

The United Nations International Children's Fund (UNICEF) has emphasized the importance of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a child's life, but the rate in Nigeria is still relatively low. There is a pressing need to provide more support for breastfeeding mothers to help improve child and infant mortality rates.

In rural areas of Taraba, primary healthcare centers are advocating for support from families, communities, and the government to enable nursing mothers to exclusively breastfeed their babies. Stakeholders believe that with increased support, the rate of exclusive breastfeeding, currently at 25-30% nationwide, can be raised to meet the WHO target of 50%.