The Ministry of Health and partners have suggested an increased paid maternity leave for working mothers to allow them to exclusively breastfeed their babies.

South Sudan labor laws allow mothers to go for three months (90 days) maternity leave, starting from the time a child is born.

The law also grants another 45 days leave for breastfeeding, but this differs depending on employers’ preference.

However, the health ministry and partners, who spoke at the conclusion of World Breastfeeding Week, say the 3-month maternity leave period is not enough.

Health Minister Yolanda Awel Deng pointed out on the need for policy makers to revise existing laws to increase the paid maternity leave to six months to allow exclusive breastfeeding.

“Policy makers can make breastfeeding possible by; legislating at least 18 weeks preferably more than six months paid maternity leave,” she said.

“It is not only a woman’s responsibility to produce. It is the government responsibility to make sure the child is well protected by protecting the mother and paying the mother.”

“Yajamana (guys), if you pay us well and take care of us, you encourage us to produce more. Also, the employers provide paid time and dedicated space. So, I’m appealing to policy makers to include and also tacking employment related discrimination against women including during pregnancy and after.”

The breastfeeding week, which starts from 1-7 August, is a campaign period to encourage exclusive breastfeeding of infants within six months of their birth.

According to UN Children’s Agency, UNICEF, breastfeeding is vital to a child’s lifelong health, and reduces costs for health facilities, families, and governments.

This year’s theme is Enabling Breastfeeding for Working Parents, emphasizes necessary actions by policymakers, employers and colleagues to support continued exclusive breastfeeding in working women to their infants.

UNICEF Country-Director Hamadi Lasseko calls on employers to support breastfeeding mothers and give them adequate time to breastfeed exclusively for the first six months.

Lasseko alternatively suggests that government institutions and agencies should have conducive lactating centers for mothers to breastfeed at work.

“Lactating mothers should receive appropriate breastfeeding breaks, worksite facilities and support to breastfeed in the workplace. Making this policy work in the workplace for mothers worldwide will accelerate progress.”

“Access to paternity and parental leave allows the non-breastfeeding parents to have time and share household responsibilities’ and provide other support to enable mother to be able to breastfeed.”