Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare will join the global community to commemorate the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week from 1st to 7th August 2026, with a renewed call on all Nigerians to support breastfeeding and create enabling environments for mothers at home, in communities, healthcare facilities and workplaces. This was contained in a statement signed by Ado Bako, Assistant Director, Information, and Public Relations.
The theme for this year’s celebration, “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works,” highlights the need to build on proven strategies that have improved breastfeeding practices while evaluating progress towards better nutrition, food security and poverty reduction.
Breastfeeding remains the foundation of lifelong health. It provides optimal nutrition for infants, strengthens immunity, supports healthy brain development, improves child survival, and contributes significantly to human capital development and national productivity. Promoting and protecting breastfeeding also reduces healthcare costs and advances food security and social equity.
The Ministry emphasized that every mother deserves the support needed to breastfeed successfully. Families, healthcare providers, employers, communities, and policymakers all have critical roles in ensuring that breastfeeding mothers receive adequate care, encouragement, and workplace support.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare continues to recommend:
– Early initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of birth;
– Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life;
– Introduction of appropriate complementary foods from six months while continuing breastfeeding up to two years of age or beyond.
Breastmilk remains the ideal food for infants. It is safe, readily available, affordable, hygienic, and provides the first line of protection against many common childhood illnesses. Increased breastfeeding also helps families avoid the high financial burden of infant formula and preventable diseases.
As part of the 2026 commemoration, activities will be held nationwide, including a National Commemoration on Monday, 3rd August 2026, a press briefing by the Honourable Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, community outreach programmes, health worker training, media campaigns and other advocacy activities across the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory.
The Ministry calls on all Nigerians to join the campaign by supporting mothers to breastfeed according to national recommendations. Collective action to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding is an investment in healthier children, stronger families, and a more prosperous Nigeria.
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