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New Zealand to miss out on major health benefits

New Zealand to miss out on major health benefits

The New Zealand Breastfeeding Alliance (NZBA) has expressed its disappointment at the government’s decision to use its veto against the Bill which would extend paid parental leave to 26 weeks.

“The cost of making the parental payment to a breastfeeding mother for six months would be significantly less than the ongoing costs of poorer health outcomes that can arise when children are not able to be breastfed because mothers have to go back to work,” NZBA Executive Officer Julie Stufkens said.

Mrs Stufkens also represents the industrialized nations on a World Health Organisation (WHO) review group on initiatives to improve breastfeeding.

“The latest Ministry of Health statistics show that from three months to six months there is a dramatic drop in breastfeeding and a rise in the use of substitutes. At the same time, the Ministry has released information that shows we have the third worst obesity rate in the OECD.

“The financial need for a mother to return to work is constantly reported as a barrier for women to continue breastfeeding.

“This legislation would have put New Zealand in line with other OECD countries, as we now have one of the lowest rates of paid parental leave in this group.

“This extension would have made a real difference as part of the work needed to help improve our nations support, protection and promotion for breastfeeding, Ms Stufkens said.

“Extending to 26 weeks or longer would have shown the importance of caring for infants and children in New Zealand to ensure a healthier future for our country”

ENDS

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