The Cross River State Government has responded to the World Health Organization, WHO, rating of her breastfeeding rate as poor by declaring an immediate extension of maternity leave for nursing mothers in her employ, from three to six months with full financial benefits.
Government, in a circular: GO/HOS/4/VOL.III/217, dated December 16, 2024, signed by Innocent Eteng, Head of Service, CRS, maintained that in view of the poor 38.95% breastfeeding rate recorded in 2023 and reported by WHO, state governor, Bassey Edet Otu, has approved that henceforth, every child born in Cross River State, “be entitled to six months exclusive breastfeeding, which will in turn improve the health and well being of the child.”
“Accordingly, maternity leave is here by elongated from three to six months for all nursing mothers in the civil/public service of the state.” It was further disclosed that this circular takes effect from this Friday, December 20, 2024.
The WHO successful breastfeeding rate demands that nursing mothers exclusively breastfeeding for about the first six months, with continued breastfeeding along with introducing appropriate complementary foods for infants up to two years of age or longer.