Nigeria has officially kicked off activities for World Breastfeeding Week 2026, with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare renewing its push for stricter enforcement of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes as part of a broader advocacy campaign to protect breastfeeding and improve infant nutrition nationwide.
Speaking at the commemoration in Abuja, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Ms. Daju Kachollom, outlined plans to strengthen support for breastfeeding through policy advocacy, public awareness campaigns, community engagement, and improved collaboration among health stakeholders across the country.
According to Kachollom, enforcing the breastfeeding code remains a key strategy for ensuring that parents receive accurate and unbiased information about infant feeding, while limiting inappropriate marketing practices that could discourage mothers from breastfeeding.
Health officials maintain that breastfeeding provides babies with the nutrients and antibodies needed for healthy growth and protection against common childhood illnesses – among several other benefits breastfeeeding offer newborns. The Ministry continues to recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, followed by nutritious complementary foods while breastfeeding continues up to two years of age or beyond.
This year’s edition of World Breastfeeding Week is being observed under the theme “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works.” As part of the week’s activities, the campaign is expected to feature nationwide advocacy, media engagement, healthcare worker sensitisation, and community outreach programmes aimed at improving breastfeeding practices and child nutrition across Nigeria.
The Ministry’s Director of Nutrition, Mrs. Olufunmilola Adegbite, noted that achieving better maternal and child health outcomes will require stronger support for breastfeeding at every level, including healthcare facilities, workplaces, communities, and within families.
Nigeria continues to grapple with a significant burden of child malnutrition, and health experts have identified breastfeeding as one of the most cost-effective interventions for improving child survival and development. Kachollom said stronger enforcement of the breastfeeding code is expected to complement ongoing efforts to reduce preventable childhood illnesses and promote healthier starts for newborns nationwide.
Source: https://health.gov.ng/press-releases/
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