Hon. Cathrine Zainab Tarawally, Chairperson of the Committee on Gender and Children’s Affairs in Sierra Leone’s Parliament, has announced a plan to extend maternal leave from three to six months. This announcement comes as the country prepares to observe World Breastfeeding Week from August 1 to August 7.

In her statement, Hon. Tarawally highlighted Parliament’s dedication to bolstering support for new mothers. She explained that Sierra Leone is taking steps to align with global practices by enacting the Breast Milk Substitute Act and aiming to extend maternal leave to six months. She also called for stricter regulations to close shops selling harmful baby foods.

Hon. Tarawally encouraged public support for exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months, stressing its importance for infant health.

Similarly, Deputy Minister of Trade, Fatmata Kargbo, expressed support for this initiative, emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts with Parliament to advocate for breastfeeding. She advised market women to ensure their infants are breastfed for 20 minutes every two hours for optimal growth and development.

Minister of State at the Vice President’s Office, Manty Tarawallie, addressed the issue of malnutrition, identifying it as a major factor in infant mortality. She emphasized that breastfeeding is vital for boosting immunity, brain development, and emotional bonding.

Liv Elin Indreiten, Deputy Director of UNICEF, praised breastfeeding as a free and effective way to reduce child mortality by 16%. She called for stronger government support for breastfeeding through legislation and improved healthcare services and advocated for workplaces to support extended maternity leave. Indreiten also underscored the importance of community involvement, recognizing that raising a child is a collective effort.