By Nasir Shuaibu
Traditional and religious leaders, employers and families have been urged to champion breastfeeding advocacy as part of efforts to improve child nutrition and maternal health in Bauchi State.
The call was made during a street awareness campaign organised by the Civil Society-Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) to commemorate the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week.
CS-SUNN State Chairperson, Dabis Mwalike, said the annual global event highlights breastfeeding as a cost-effective and lifesaving practice that contributes significantly to child survival and healthy family development.
She explained that the 2026 theme, “Strengthening What Works,” underscores the need to sustain interventions that have proven effective in promoting breastfeeding.
Mwalike reiterated that babies should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life to receive adequate nutrition and protection from diseases, while mothers also benefit from improved health outcomes.
She encouraged fathers to provide practical support for nursing mothers by assisting with household chores and childcare responsibilities.
Director of Public Health, Samira Muhammad, appealed to traditional and religious institutions to intensify community sensitisation on breastfeeding, while calling on employers to adopt breastfeeding-friendly workplace policies.
She also stressed the importance of health workers providing breastfeeding counselling during pregnancy and ensuring that newborns are breastfed within the first hour after delivery.
According to Muhammad, collective action by communities, institutions and policymakers remains critical to improving exclusive breastfeeding practices and ensuring a healthier future for children in Bauchi State.
