The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has stressed the importance of Early initiation of breastfeeding, Exclusive breastfeeding, and preventing malnutrition in the first 1,000 days of life of every child.
The assertion was made by the Chief of Field (CFO), UNICEF, Bauchi Field Office (BFO), Dr Nuzhat Raffique, on Monday during the flag-off of the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week in Bauchi with a briefing to Journalists at the Emergency Operation Centre (EOC).
Nuzhat Rafique, described breastfeeding as a proven, life-saving practice and urged mothers to adopt optimal breastfeeding practices for the healthy growth and survival of their children.
She also said that this year’s World Breastfeeding Week with theme, **”Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works,”** emphasises the need to build on proven interventions that improve child nutrition.
She also praised the state government for allocating N500m as counterpart funding for the Child Nutrition Fund, expressing optimism that the funds would be released promptly to procure nutrition supplies.
According to her, although more than Nine in every Ten mothers in Bauchi State breastfeed their children, optimal breastfeeding practices remain low.
“As I said, breastfeeding remains a valued practice with more than nine in 10 mothers breastfeeding their children, but unfortunately the optimal practices are not there,” she said.
Nuzhat Rafique disclosed that only 12 per cent of newborns in Bauchi are breastfed within the first hour of birth, while only 26 per cent of infants are exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life.
She explained that babies should be breastfed within the first hour after birth and given colostrum, the first breast milk, which she described as the child’s first vaccination because of the immunity it provides.
“The child should have breast milk immediately after birth without being given water, honey or any local drinks. Those practices introduce germs and expose children to diarrhoea and other infections,” she added.
The UNICEF official noted that poor breastfeeding practices contribute significantly to diarrhoea, respiratory infections and malnutrition, creating a vicious cycle that weakens children and increases the risk of death.
She urged mothers to exclusively breastfeed their babies for the first six months, continue breastfeeding alongside complementary feeding for two years, and maintain adequate birth spacing.
According to her, breastfeeding should not be left to mothers alone, stressing that fathers, families, employers and government institutions all have roles to play in supporting nursing mothers.
She added that family-friendly workplace policies, including the implementation of the state’s six-month paid maternity leave and the establishment of crèches in workplaces, would improve breastfeeding practices and child survival.
She said, “As we mark World Breastfeeding Week 2026, we are reminded that breastfeeding remains a critical investment we can make in the health, survival, and development of every child.
She stressed,”This year’s theme, “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works,” calls on us to build on the progress we have made while strengthening the systems that enable mothers to breastfeed successfully.”
According to her, “In Bauchi, breastfeeding remains a valued practice, with more than nine in ten mothers breastfeeding their children. This reflects a strong commitment by Nigerian families to give children the best possible start in life.”
Nuzhat Raffique said, “However, while breastfeeding is widespread, optimal breastfeeding practices remain a challenge. Current data show that exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months remains stagnant at about 26%, early initiation of breastfeeding has declined, with only 12 percent receiving breast milk within the first hour of life while continued breastfeeding at two years has also declined.”
According to her, “These figures remind us that breastfeeding is not only a mother’s responsibility. It is a shared responsibility that requires support from families and communities, healthcare providers, employers and workplaces as well as Government institutions and policymakers.”
“Many mothers face barriers that make exclusive breastfeeding difficult. These include: limited maternity protection and workplace challenges, inadequate access to breastfeeding counselling and support, cultural practices that encourage giving infants water, herbal drinks, or other liquids before six months, misinformation about infant feeding, inappropriate promotion and marketing of breastmilk substitutes and delayed initiation of breastfeeding after birth,” She said.
According to her,”These challenges show why mothers need practical support and accurate information throughout their breastfeeding journey.”
Nuzhat Raffique assured that UNICEF will continue to work with the Federal Government, State Governments , and partners to strengthen breastfeeding and nutrition outcomes, especially in the first 1,000 days of a child’s life, across Nigeria.
She stressed that through initiatives such as the First 1,000 Days Nutrition Social and Behaviour Change Campaign, UNICEF is supporting efforts to engage fathers, grandmothers, religious leaders, and traditional leaders as advocates for breastfeeding, strengthen community breastfeeding support structures, support the implementation of nutrition policies and strategies and strengthen monitoring systems to track progress and improve programmes.
She added that UNICEF is also supporting the Zero Water Campaign to address the practice of giving water to infants under six months and promote exclusive breastfeeding.
While saying that Healthcare facilities have a vital role in ensuring mothers receive quality support from pregnancy through delivery and after birth. Health workers should support mothers to initiate breastfeeding within the first hour after delivery.
They are also to provide accurate breastfeeding counselling during antenatal and postnatal care, help mothers overcome common breastfeeding challenges, ensure continued support after mothers leave health facilities and implement Baby-Friendly Hospital practices that create a supportive environment for breastfeeding.
Nuzhat Rafique stressed that Breastfeeding goes beyond nutrition, as it strengthens children’s immunity, protects against common childhood illnesses such as diarrhoea and pneumonia, reduces the risk of malnutrition, and supports healthy growth and development and helps lower healthcare costs for families and the health system.
She stressed that, “Everyone has a role to play in creating an environment where mothers can breastfeed successfully.”
The UNICEF CFO opined that Families can support mothers by providing encouragement and reassurance, sharing household responsibilities and helping mothers access support when needed.
For Communities, She said that they can promote positive attitudes towards breastfeeding, establish mother-to-mother support networks as well as challenge harmful beliefs and misinformation.
Also, Policymakers and institutions can strengthen maternity protection policies, enforce regulations on breastmilk substitute marketing and ensure workplaces and public spaces are breastfeeding friendly.
“As Bauchi marks World Breastfeeding Week, UNICEF’s message is clear: breastfeeding gives every child the best possible start in life, but mothers cannot do it alone. We encourage mothers to exclusively breastfeed their babies for the first six months and continue breastfeeding alongside appropriate complementary foods up to two years and beyond,” She stressed.
Nuzhat Raffique conuded that, “Strengthening support for breastfeeding is urgent and requires collective action from families, communities, healthcare providers, employers, government institutions, and development partners. By strengthening what works, we can give every child in Bauchi a healthier and more sustainable start in life.”
The UNICEF CFO also used auchi State Governor, Sen Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, has been commended by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), for being a Champion of Exclusive breastfeeding through the various support his administration is giving particularly the approval of the Six months maternity leave to women after child delivery.
According to her, the approval of the Six months maternity leave by the Governor, was a demonstration of his support to exclusive breastfeeding in order to promote child health and improving mother to child intimacy.
According to her, “The six months maternity leave is a major milestone that would enable mothers to exclusively breastfeed their babies.”
Earlier in his remarks, Executive Chairman of Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Board, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, warned women against denying their babies breast milk because of the misconception that breastfeeding causes breasts to sag, stressing that breast sagging occurs naturally with age.
Rilwanu Mohammed, expressed concern that some mothers deliberately deny their children breast milk because they believe breastfeeding makes them look older by causing their breasts to sag.
He warned that denying children breast milk, particularly exclusive breastfeeding, exposes them to malnutrition and other childhood illnesses.
“Breastfeeding is not what makes your breasts fall. Your breasts naturally fall with age whether you give it to your children or not,” Rilwanu Mohammed said.
He noted that exclusive breastfeeding remains one of the most effective ways of protecting children from malnutrition and preventable diseases.
He urged mothers not to deprive their babies of breast milk over cosmetic concerns, describing breastfeeding as a vital responsibility that gives children the best possible start in life.
He added that children who are exclusively breastfed generally enjoy better health, stronger immunity and improved cognitive development.
The Chairman also commended the Bauchi State Government for approving six months of maternity leave, saying the policy would support mothers in practising exclusive breastfeeding.
He, however, stressed the need for sustained public enlightenment and urged families, caregivers and the media to continue promoting exclusive breastfeeding while encouraging mothers to maintain breastfeeding alongside complementary feeding until children are at least two years old.
