State whose wives put to bed has been overwhelming commended.
There was wild jubilation in the coal city as the news spread. Both
civil servants and non civil servants hailed the new policy.
The government of Enugu State led by Mr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi had last
week Wednesday, announced the granting of three weeks paternity leave
to male civil servants whose wives put to bed.
Before now, female workers who gave birth were entitled to only three
months maternity leave while their husbands were left out; but with
the present directive, nursing mothers who are civil servants would
now be enjoying additional three months, bringing the number of period
they will observe their maternity leave to six months.
State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sam Ngwu who announced this said
that the new policy would meant "to strengthen the family as a social
unit and also promote mother and child welfare".
He stated this while unveiling plans to mark this year's Breast
Feeding Week in the State in Enugu last week.
Ngwu explained that the extension of the maternity leave would
encourage nursing mothers in the state to engage in the
internationally recommended four to six months exclusive breast
feeding of newborn babies.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr.
Moses Otiji, the Commissioner said nursing mothers should be allowed
to continuously breast feed their babies anywhere they work, whether
in the private or public sector.
He added that "The week is dedicated to draw the attention of the
public on the need for exclusive breast feeding which contains yellow
milk that contains most of the vital ingredients for healthy growth of
the baby".
Coordinator of Baby Friendly Initiative, Enugu State Ministry of
Health, Mrs. Pauline Enenwali few days ago lamented that no fewer than
15 children die in Enugu daily due to poor nutrition, noting that it
was not an excuse for nursing mothers not to feed their babies
exclusively on breast milk.
Enenwali further told reporters that "the health indices on exclusive
breastfeeding in the State were so poor that not less than 5,000
babies died annually arising from malnutrition while the prevalence of
malnutrition stood at 30.6 per cent".
South East Voice went to town sample opinions of the people and the
result was a resounding commendation. It was unanimously accepted
although some persons spoke against the decision but were not in
majority.
One of the residents who spoke against, who simply gave his name as
Johnbull said, "this is laughable. I have never heard about paternity
leave anywhere in the world before now. After all, in Igboland, when a
woman delivers, the husband sends for his mother in-law to assist her
daughter nurse the baby.
"I don't know where governor Ugwuanyi got this idea but surely it will
reduce the productive capacity for the State", he stated.
On his part, Mr. Nwobodo Onyekwere, a media consultant based in Enugu
said "it is a family-friendly policy and Enugu is setting the pace in
this regard.
The long term effect would include multiplication of smarter kids who
would have been breast fed exclusively while in short term, working
parents can have the opportunity to grapple with post-natal challenges
with minimum distraction.
"It shows the Gburugburu (governor) government is sensitive, generous
and pro-family".
Also lending her voice, a seasoned labour Editor with Vanguard stable,
Mrs. Funmi Komolafe in her reaction said "it is quite commendable .
Fashola started it. Lagos hubby two weeks and it is for only first and
second babies in the marriage".
Also commenting, a human rights group, Centre for the Vulnerable and
the Underprivileged, (Centrep) led by Mr. Oghenejabor Ikimi told South
East Voice that "sincerely speaking the 3 weeks paternity leave for
husbands in the Enugu State Civil Service whose wives put to birth,
and the six months maternity leave for nursing mother civil servants
instead of the
Enugu State Civil Service whose wives put to birth, and the six months
maternity leave for nursing mother civil servants instead of the
initial three months leave, is a welcome development.
"Enugu State is no doubt following the footsteps of Lagos State in the
above regard. I am not oblivious of the fact that the Lagos State
Government had approved similar leave to husbands and nursing mothers
employed in her State Civil Service some two years back, and I use
this opportunity to renew my earlier call to the Federal Government
including other State Governments and Local Governments in the
Federation to emulate the above examples already laid by Lagos and
Enugu States.
"The above directive", he went on, "no doubt would help in the short
run to cement family bond and in the long run to enhance productivity
and service delivery as you know, every Nation requires strong
families ties to build a strong and vibrant Civil Service for her
growth and development".
"It is in the light of the above that we call on Civil Servants
employed in the Enugu State Civil Service not to abuse the said
gesture, as it would take a governor with a sound parental background
to introduce same".
-Vanguard
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