Expert wants businesses to create workplace crèche

A nutritional expert, Dr Chika Ndikweolu has advocated the introduction of crèches by businesses among other baby-friendly policies  to encourage working mothers to stay close to their babies

and breastfeed their infants on demand .

Exclusive breastfeeding rate in Nigeria is poor resulting in economic losses as working parents spend time that would otherwise spend at work taking care of sick infants.

Speaking at a nutrition workshop held by Coca Cola for journalists in Lagos, a consultant nutritionist, Dr Chika Ndiokwelu, said such an initiative by companies would enhance productivity in the workplace .

 “Companies need to introduce crèche in the workplace. It will enhance productivity because, the heart of these mothers will be settled at work and they are likely to perform better,” said Ndiokwelu

She lamented that unfriendly workplace policies are affecting exclusive breastfeeding rate in Nigeria while depriving the society of its inherent benefits.

Speaking on the rationale for the workshop, the Public Affairs Director, Clem Ugorji, said that the engagement with the media was part of the company’s continuous dialogue aimed at getting consumer feedback as well as provide opportunity for the company to offer its own perspectives  on issues that affect them for mutual understanding.

“Media is important to businesses especially those in the fast moving consumer goods sector because we need the media to explain what we are doing to the consumers. You need the media to connect you to your target audience.

“ It is important for us to have dialogue with media because they know what consumers are saying.

It is part of our conversation with the consumers so that we can understand what people are saying about our products and to offer our own perspective on those issues.”