Fajarasia.co – Deputy for the Fulfillment of Children’s Rights at the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (Kemen PPPA) Agustina Erni said the commitment of DPR Speaker Puan Maharani to pass the 6-month maternity leave clause in the Maternal and Child Welfare Bill (KIA) is a hope for women in Indonesia.
According to him, for women who have just given birth, this period is very valuable in paying attention to the growth and development of the child.
“That’s true (answering women’s concerns, ed) because it is a voice that often appears. Like the anxiety that my son also experienced when his 3 month leave period was over, and he was very grateful that WFH was allowed to come from his company. He can stay productive but stay close to his children “Agustina said to the media crew, in Jakarta, Sunday (26/6/2022).
In her statement some time ago, Puan emphasized the importance of rearranging the period of maternity leave, which is important to ensure child development and recovery for mothers after giving birth. In addition, this maternity leave is also to reduce the stunting rate with the role of the mother being more dominant.
“The DPR will continue to carry out intensive communication with various stakeholders regarding this matter. We hope that the government’s commitment to support this regulation is for the future of the nation’s next generation,” said Puan Maharani.
He said that exclusive breastfeeding for the first 3 months is not easy for a mother, and it turns out that when it comes to exclusive breastfeeding, every 3 hours the mother has to give her breast milk.
Can you imagine it, he continued, if a mother still has to go to the office, in a good office there may already be places for breast milk care, which then when she comes home they are given to the child.
“But not many have such facilities, not all institutions or companies have them,” he explained.
So, Agustina is of the view, that this 6-month leave clause will be very helpful for mothers who have just given birth to exclusively breastfeed, to shape the quality of brain growth and prevent stunting.
“This phrase is very supportive for the quality of the mother herself, then the child’s growth and development, and I think also the family. Because of the closeness of mother and child, being able to breastfeed (directly) is very extraordinary,” he concluded.****
