 The United Nations Children's Education Forum, UNICEF, stakeholders and civil society organisations have advocated for six-month paid maternity leave and establishment of crutches at workplaces in both the public and private sector. They made the advocacy at the one-day strategic dialogue aim to encourage early initiation of breastfeeding within an hour of Beth, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life and continued breastfeeding to two years of age. UNICEF Nutrition Specialist, Indy Kaduna, fuelled our fishing ways, a face said, breastfeeding within one hour after birth and during the first six months reduces infant life-threatening diseases and mortality of children. UNICEF Nutrition Specialist, Indy Kaduna, fuelled our fishing ways, a face said, keep that child alone on breast milk for the first six months. You find out that it will help to reduce child mobility and mortality. The rate with which they fall sick and if not controlled they may die. So breast milk is really something we must encourage women to do and doing it properly. We want to show the commitment of government as to the issue of the six-month paid leave that we have and to continue to have this kind of arrangement not only in the businesses but other departments and agencies of government so that Kaduna will remain number one by the time we have all the crutches everywhere. The crutches are good. Children have a very young and sharp brain. By the time they come to the office they see what is happening they will grow with that mentality and they also want to participate in governance. The President of Medical Women's Association of Nigeria Kaduna Brand says zero water and extensive breastfeeding improves a child's cognitive and keeps the child healthy. We are talking about zero water so that our children can have the full benefits starting from that early initiation and once that happens we expect that that child will be positioned to be on the journey of a lifetime that is benefiting and at the end of the day will help the child to grow to become a productive adult. When a child is well breastfed and provided that opportunity to grow and thrive they stand a better chance of survival they are better protected and at the end of the day their cognitive function in terms of their intellect becomes stimulated. They do well in school. Our message really is for mothers for fathers and the entire communities to understand and embrace this breastfeeding practices and other maternal infant and young child nutrition practices that are very healthy for the entire family and society. Nutrition advocating from the state government of Kaduna State to ensure that every MDE have a crutch where our breastfeeding mothers after the six months maternity leave they will now come back to the workplace with their little children to continue breastfeeding as we have said the breastfeeding continues after the exclusive breastfeeding even up to two years and beyond so with the crutches made available the mother will have a conducive atmosphere to work and also to breastfeed her baby without anyone wanting to be put into law so that not only the public facilities are going to adhere to the law but even the private sector. August 1st to 7th is set aside as the World Breastfeeding Week the 2023 campaign is to increase awareness on the health and well-being of infants young children mothers families and the society at large hello hope you enjoyed the news please do subscribe to our youtube channel and don't forget to hit the notification button so you get notified about fresh news updates