Supporting 6 Months Leave For Exclusive Breastfeeding For Children, NU Muslimat Calls The MCH Bill In Line With The Target Of Reducing Stunting

Illustration-Breastfeeding Mother (Photo: Pexels)

JAKARTA - The Central Leadership of Muslimat Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) welcomes the proposal for six months of maternity leave written in the Draft Law on Maternal and Child Welfare (RUU KIA).

"Muslimat NU supports and welcomes it because they think that the proposed six-month maternity leave is to ensure the health of mothers and children in the early stages of life," said Chairman III of PP Muslimat NU, Dr. Hj. Mursyidah Thahir in her statement in Jakarta, Antara, Monday, July 4.

Mursyidah explained, children really need exclusive breastfeeding to support the optimal growth and development process.

"Exclusive breastfeeding will certainly be given well if a mother is close to her child," he said.

Moreover, he said, the government is currently focusing on efforts to improve maternal and child health as stated in Presidential Regulation Number 72 of 2021 concerning the Acceleration of Stunting Reduction.

"Obviously the proposed six-month maternity leave will support government programs related to the fulfillment of exclusive breastfeeding and nutritional intake at the beginning of a child's life in order to create a superior and quality generation," he said.

The MCH Bill is also expected to support efforts to accelerate the reduction in the prevalence of stunting due to the fulfillment of exclusive breastfeeding for infants as an effort to prevent stunting problems.

She added that the proposed six-month maternity leave period was not a new idea. Some developed countries, he said, have even implemented regulations like this to provide protection for mothers and children in the first phase of their lives.

Meanwhile, as previously reported, the Draft Law on Maternal and Child Welfare (KIA) has officially become a DPR initiative bill for further discussion with the government.

The ratification of the MCH Bill as an initiative of the DPR was carried out in a plenary meeting at the Nusantara II Building, Parliament Complex, Senayan, last Thursday.