Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Government has intensified its campaign to promote exclusive breastfeeding, describing it as one of the most effective strategies for combating child malnutrition and improving maternal and child health outcomes.
The State Nutrition Officer, Aishatu Suleiman, stated this on Thursday during a road walk organised to commemorate the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week. The awareness campaign began at the School of Hygiene and ended at the Emir’s Palace, Kofar Kudu, attracting health workers, development partners, civil society organisations and government officials.
Ms Suleiman said the campaign was aimed at increasing public awareness of exclusive breastfeeding from birth to six months and encouraging mothers to continue breastfeeding until children are two years old.
She said breast milk contains all the nutrients required for a baby’s growth and development while providing protection against common childhood illnesses.
“Exclusive breastfeeding remains one of the most effective interventions for addressing malnutrition, which continues to be a major public health challenge in Kano State,” she said.
“We are here to support, protect and promote exclusive breastfeeding from birth to six months and encourage mothers to continue breastfeeding up to two years. Breast milk provides all the nutritional requirements a baby needs and strengthens immunity.”
She explained that although World Breastfeeding Week is observed globally for seven days, Kano State has scheduled a three-day programme of advocacy and public enlightenment to engage communities on the importance of optimal breastfeeding practices.
UNICEF seeks stronger support for mothers
The Chief of UNICEF’s Kano Field Office, Shafeeq Ur-Rehman, described breastfeeding as “the most sustainable food on earth” and called for stronger government policies to enable mothers to exclusively breastfeed their children.
Speaking during the event, Mr Ur-Rehman said this year’s theme, “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works,” underscores the need to invest in proven interventions that improve child survival and development.
He noted that breast milk serves as a child’s first vaccine against illness, malnutrition and preventable deaths, while also contributing to improved cognitive development and future productivity.
“The evidence is overwhelming. Scaling up breastfeeding could prevent hundreds of thousands of maternal and child deaths each year,” he said.
Mr Ur-Rehman, however, expressed concern over Nigeria’s low rates of optimal breastfeeding despite widespread acceptance of the practice.
According to him, while more than 90 per cent of Nigerian mothers breastfeed their children, fewer than one in ten newborns are breastfed within the first hour of birth, and only about one in ten infants are exclusively breastfed during their first six months of life.
He stressed that breastfeeding should not be viewed solely as a mother’s responsibility but as a shared obligation involving governments, healthcare providers, families, workplaces and communities.
The UNICEF official urged states that have yet to adopt six months of paid maternity leave, including Kano, Jigawa and Katsina, to implement the policy.
He said longer maternity leave, flexible working hours, breastfeeding breaks, private lactation spaces and facilities for storing expressed breast milk would enable more mothers to practise exclusive breastfeeding.
Partners advocate policy reforms
Also speaking, Shetima Kyari, representing the Johns Hopkins Programme for International Education in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (Jhpiego), said the organisation has been supporting Kano State’s maternal, newborn, child health and nutrition programmes since last year.
He said Jhpiego works with secondary healthcare facilities across the state to promote early initiation of breastfeeding immediately after birth, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and continued breastfeeding beyond two years.
Mr Kyari identified cultural myths and misconceptions as major barriers preventing many mothers from practising optimal breastfeeding.
Chairperson of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria, Kano State Chapter, Saadeq Suleiman, said the organisation supports governments through capacity building for healthcare workers, technical advisory services and policy development to improve maternal and child nutrition.
He said strengthening healthcare workers’ capacity and implementing evidence-based nutrition policies would increase breastfeeding rates and reduce child malnutrition.
Representing the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Halima Katagum said the agency regulates the marketing of breast milk substitutes to prevent practices that discourage exclusive breastfeeding.
She explained that NAFDAC prohibits the promotion of infant formula through advertisements, branded gifts and other marketing activities targeting mothers.
“Our role is to regulate the marketing of breast milk substitutes so that mothers are encouraged to practise exclusive breastfeeding instead of relying on formula products,” she said.
Participants at the event called for sustained public awareness campaigns, stronger family and community support, and greater government investment in maternal and child nutrition to improve breastfeeding practices and child survival in Kano State.
