Mr Fofana who was speaking during the commemoration of world breastfeeding week when he made the remarks, further said that workplace challenges remain the main reason for women to never breastfeed or stop breastfeeding earlier than recommended.
“Parents need adequate time and support to breastfeed. A workplace needs adequate breastfeeding facilities to become a breastfeeding friendly workplace,’’ he stated
He revealed that only forty-two countries mandate workplace breastfeeding facilities, noting that promoting, protecting and supporting breastfeeding addresses inequalities that stand in the way of sustainable development.
In order to achieve the aforementioned objectives, Mr. Fofana reaffirmed that governments, policymakers, workplaces, communities and parents should raise awareness and advocate for breastfeeding-friendly workplaces through various media engagement channels.
According to him, this year’s breastfeeding week focuses on breastfeeding and employment/work, adding that in the post pandemic workplace, it is thought that paid leave, workplace support and changing parental norm all played a significant part in facilitating breastfeeding and fostering breastfeeding-friendly environment.
“As an institution responsible for nutrition, we are humbled to be associated with any programs that will promote, protect and support optimal breastfeeding thus enhancing the lives and livelihoods of women and children,” Mr Fofana also said.
He said NaNA and partners will intensify and diversify social and behavioral change communication engagements to inform the public about the importance of exclusive breastfeeding and subscribe to the establishment and maintenance of breastfeeding friendly workplaces, corners and creches.
He buttressed that they also plan to advocate for commitment from government institutions beginning with such institutions to establish breastfeeding-friendly workplaces and environments as well as collect human interest stories to showcase the experience and perspectives of parents to highlight the impact of paid maternity leave through audio visuals.
Meanwhile, according to UNICEF and WHO, the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding has increased by a remarkable 10 percentage points to 48 percent globally, adding that promoting and supporting breastfeeding at workplaces can help drive the progress higher and towards the global target of 70 percent by 2030.
The UN agencies across the world have also agreed that while breastfeeding rates drop significantly for women when they return to work, that negative impact can be reversed when workplaces facilitate mothers to continue to breastfeed their babies.
