The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) have urged for the introduction of a national law to protect the breastfeeding rights of working parents. According to the two organizations, the proposed law should ensure that working parents who breastfeed receive adequate leave, flexible work options, and specific breastfeeding breaks.
In a joint statement issued during the 2023 Breastfeeding Week, the FDA and the GHS conveyed their worry over the fact that despite the acknowledged health advantages of breastfeeding for infants, numerous working parents still encounter challenges in maintaining exclusive breastfeeding for the recommended duration of six months.
The statement highlighted that numerous working parents end up breastfeeding for periods extending to two years or even longer. It underscored the fact that breastfeeding is a fundamental entitlement of every child and holds significant importance for child survival and holistic development.
The joint statement made an appeal to employers to take steps towards establishing workplaces that are conducive to breastfeeding, equipped with secure spaces, sanitary facilities, and suitable storage options for breast milk.
The statement underscored that obstacles such as extended working hours, insufficient maternity leave, inadequate breastfeeding leave, and the social stigma linked with breastfeeding at the workplace hinder parents from offering the optimal nutrition their infants require.
It further requested the collaboration of various stakeholders, encompassing governments, employers, civil society entities, and community organizations, to collectively overcome these hurdles and create an encouraging atmosphere that supports breastfeeding for working parents.
The 2023 World Breastfeeding Week revolves around the theme: “Enabling Breastfeeding: Making a Difference for Working Parents”. This week-long campaign for awareness and education accentuates the significance of cultivating a supportive milieu that empowers working parents to continue breastfeeding without it affecting their professional responsibilities.
Source: GHANA HEALTH SERVICE
