Exclusive Breastfeeding: NASS To Review Health Insurance Bill

The National Assembly has said it would review the National Health Insurance Authority Bill to incorporate exclusive breastfeeding into the Act.

The lawmakers said this would help create an enabling environment for exclusive breastfeeding and child nutrition in the country.

Senate Committee Chairman on Health, Dr Ibrahim Oloriegbe has disclosed at a webinar to celebrate 2020 World Breastfeeding Week.

The webinar which had: “innovative strategies for improving breastfeeding and nutrition in Nigeria” was organised by Save the Children International.

Oloriegbe noted stated that the bill, which has passed third reading on the floor of the Senate and currently at the House of Representatives for its concurrence, would go a long way in improving child nutrition in the country when signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The lawmaker also said that a six month maternity leave bill is currently before the Senate committee on health which would among others drive innovative approach that will promote breastfeeding in Nigeria.

He said: “The bill will also encourage and support working class women to stay at home and exclusively breastfeed their children for the first six months of life and till the child clock two years. The bill will make for breastfeeding break and space in work places.

“It will also provide for the prioritisation of breastfeeding mothers and children at health facilities and other public service delivery point and provide activity support education in nutrition for breastfeeding mothers including their support.”

Oloriegbe maintained that the promotion of breastfeeding is an investment in human capital and the health of the planet.

According to him, concerted effort by government, health care providers, religious and traditional institutions, civil societies and the academia to promote and support breastfeeding would have positive impact on this part of our planet.

Also Save the Children Programme Development and Quality Director, Shannon Ward, lamented that despite the crucial nature of exclusive breastfeeding to babies’ health and growth, in Nigeria one out of three child benefits from exclusive breastfeeding and initiation of breastfeeding is not widely practiced.

She said SCI has been supporting the Federal Government’s effort to promote and protect breastfeeding for several years.

“We have implemented breastfeeding, promotional skills and saw positive changes.

“Since then, breastfeeding was integrated into our nutritional programs and health, security and child protection programs. We are committed to work with effort of Nigeria government for mothers to be supported in breastfeeding to contribute to the earlier planet,” she added.