DAR ES SALAAM, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian authorities said on Tuesday there were no plans to extend maternity leave from the current 84 days.
Faustin Ndugulile, the east African nation's Deputy Minister for Health, Community Development, Gender, the Elderly and Children told parliament that mothers who give birth to one baby will continue enjoying 84 days of maternity leave while those with twins are entitled to 100 days.
Ndugulile was responding to a question by Grace Tendega, an opposition Member of Parliament, who had wanted to know whether the government has plans of extending maternity leave for mothers who give birth to premature babies.
Ndugulile clarified that a working lactating mother is supposed to be given two hours per day for breastfeeding.
The minister said the government will continue to implement the 2007 health policy on provision of free health services to special groups, including pregnant women.
"The ministry is striving to improve various child delivery services. We are now implementing phase two of a strategy to improve the health of infants including premature babies," he told the House in the capital Dodoma.
However, Ndugulile admitted that medicines for premature babies are expensive, adding that the government is looking forward to addressing the issue to make such medicines affordable for all citizens.
