The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Tuesday recommended
six months paid maternity leave and four weeks paid paternity leave to
ensure healthy development of young children.
UNICEF Representative in Nigeria Mohammed Fall disclosed this at
the National Early Childhood Development conference (ECD) in Abuja with
the theme; “Investing early in Nigerian children”.
Fall also recommended two years pre-primary education, adding that
the policies will afford parents time and resources needed to support
their young children’s healthy development.
He said that Nigeria currently has three months paid maternity leave, only one year free pre- education and no paternity leave.
The representative emphasised that based on the 2016 Multiple
Indicator Cluster Survey, the key indicators of child development remain
low in ally.
Fall says, “Only about 40 per cent of children within the ages
of 36 to 59 months are attending an organised early childhood education
programme, while more than 31 per cent of children under the age of five
are moderately and severely underweight.
“Yet research in the Lancet series 2016 shows that early
childhood education programme is a foundation for health, productivity,
learning and social cohesion”.
Fall noted that the conference was aimed at creating awareness on
the meaning and importance of the early years of a child from conception
to five years in early childhood nutrition, education and development.
“Nigeria is putting its children at risk of underdeveloped both
physically and mentally because critical national policies are not
providing an adequate foundation for their growth.
“During the first one year of a child’s life the brain grows
rapidly. Providing good nutrition, loving care and appropriate play
provide solid foundation for child’s learning and eventual contribution
to economic and social growth.
“Early Childhood Development includes physical and cognitive
support has a strategic place in the achievement of the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGS).
“Investing in ECD includes services to support caregivers,
quality pre-primary education and good nutrition will help to secure
healthy and productive future generations in Nigeria,” Fall said.
“Supporting exclusive breastfeeding, having good ECD policies
in place will help to improve the overall health of a child, enable
parents and care givers to be more responsive to children’s needs and
provide greater safety and security,” he added.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the highlight of the
conference was the inauguration of UNICEF report on Early Moments Matter
for Early Child.
(NAN)
