FG, Experts Urge Stronger Action to Improve Breastfeeding Practices in Nigeria

By Ojoma Akor

Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and health experts have called for stronger national action to improve breastfeeding practices and accelerate progress toward Nigeria’s maternal and child nutrition targets.

They made the call Monday in Abuja during the flag-off of the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week, organized by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in collaboration with CS-SUNN and other partners.

Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom, said poor nutrition during the first 1,000 days of life—from pregnancy until a child’s second birthday—has lifelong consequences for children’s health, learning, and productivity.

Citing the 2023–2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), she said while 95 percent of Nigerian mothers breastfeed, only 36 percent initiate breastfeeding within one hour of birth, only 29 percent exclusively breastfeed for the first six months, while just 23 percent continue breastfeeding until their children reach 24 months.

She noted that the figures have remained largely unchanged since 2018, underscoring the need for intensified efforts to achieve national nutrition targets.

Kachollom said the country continues to struggle with optimal breastfeeding practices. She identified barriers including delayed initiation of breastfeeding, harmful cultural practices, inadequate counseling, limited workplace support, aggressive marketing of breast milk substitutes, and insufficient community involvement.

She said this year’s theme, “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works,” underscores the need to reinforce policies, quality health services, baby-friendly workplaces and community support systems that enable mothers to breastfeed successfully.

The permanent secretary described breastfeeding as one of the most effective and cost-efficient interventions for improving child survival and development, adding that the ministry remains committed to protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding across the country.

“Breastfeeding remains one of the most effective interventions for improving child survival and development.

“Breastfeeding provides complete nutrition, protects against infections, strengthens immunity, supports brain development and reduces infant mortality. For mothers, it lowers postpartum risks and reduces the incidence of breast and ovarian cancers. For families and the nation, it reduces healthcare costs, improves educational outcomes and boosts productivity,” she said.

She also said Nigeria continues to face a triple burden of malnutrition, including undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies and rising levels of overweight and obesity.

Kachollom said that addressing these challenges requires collective action from the government, health workers, employers, communities, and families.

She commended the 21 states that have adopted six months of paid maternity leave and urged the remaining states to implement similar policies to support working mothers.

As part of activities marking the week, the ministry officially launched the First 1,000 Days of Life Nutrition Social and Behavior Change Campaign, aimed at improving knowledge and encouraging families and communities to adopt evidence-based nutrition practices during pregnancy and early childhood.

The campaign promotes good maternal nutrition, early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding for six months, timely introduction of complementary feeding, continued breastfeeding, and stronger community ownership of healthy nutrition practices.

“The First 1,000 Days of Life Nutrition Social and Behavior Change Campaign aims to improve knowledge, transform behaviors and mobilize families and communities to adopt evidence-based nutrition practices throughout pregnancy and early childhood,” Kachollom said.

“It promotes good maternal nutrition, early initiation, exclusive breastfeeding, timely complementary feeding, continued breastfeeding and stronger community ownership of optimal nutrition behaviors.”

She urged pregnant women to attend antenatal care services at primary healthcare centers and encouraged mothers to ensure their children receive routine immunization after birth.

She also appealed to women to share nutrition information within their communities and called on husbands, traditional leaders, employers, health workers and other stakeholders to support breastfeeding and maternal nutrition.

She further called for renewed commitment to strengthening breastfeeding counseling, expanding maternity protection, establishing breastfeeding-friendly workplaces, enforcing regulations on breast milk substitutes, and increasing investment in nutrition programs.

“Breastfeeding is everyone’s responsibility. Every mother deserves accurate information, quality support and an enabling environment.”

CS-SUNN Executive Secretary, Mr Sunday Okoronkwo, represented by Program Manager Ridwan Awosanya, described World Breastfeeding Week as a reminder that breastfeeding is not only a maternal and child health intervention but also a foundation for human capital development, stronger communities and national prosperity.

He said investing in breastfeeding is an investment in Nigeria’s future and called on governments, employers, communities, families, and development partners to strengthen policies and systems that enable every mother to initiate breastfeeding early, exclusively breastfeed for 6 months, and continue breastfeeding in line with global recommendations.

UNICEF Representative Rownak Khan said increased investment in breastfeeding could save billions of dollars globally each year by reducing maternal and child deaths while improving children’s physical and cognitive development.

He called on government and stakeholders to work together to promote breastfeeding, improve maternal nutrition and create an enabling environment that gives every Nigerian child the healthiest possible start in life.

Director of Nutrition at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Olufunmilola Adegbite, also called for stronger protections for mothers to overcome barriers to optimal breastfeeding, including workplace policies that support nursing mothers.

She said children who receive adequate nutrition during the first 1,000 days of life are more likely to become healthy, educated, productive and resilient adults who contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s development.

President of the Pediatric Association of Nigeria (PAN), Dr. Petronilla Tabansi, who Professor Joan Ikobah represented, called on all stakeholders to strengthen breastfeeding support by:

• Promoting awareness and monitoring progress in improving breastfeeding data across Nigeria.
• Strengthening support institutions and health systems through the Warm Chain of Support.
• Building stronger partnerships among governments, healthcare workers, workplaces, communities, families, and development partners to create an enabling environment for breastfeeding.

She said, “At the heart of successful breastfeeding is the Warm Chain of Support—a continuous network of care that connects families, healthcare providers, workplaces, and communities to provide consistent encouragement and support for mothers and their babies throughout the first 1,000 days of life.

“We have heard inspiring testimonies from mothers who expressed gratitude to their spouses for the encouragement and practical support they received in exclusively breastfeeding their babies. Such family support is a powerful reminder that when we strengthen what already works, we achieve better outcomes for our children and our nation.”

She added that there was a need to continue to strengthen the systems, partnerships, and support networks that enable every mother to breastfeed successfully and every Nigerian child to enjoy the healthiest possible start in life.