World Breastfeeding Week, observed every year in the first week of August, is a reminder of the critical role breastfeeding plays in the growth, survival and development of children It also plays a significant role in the overall health of mothers and the well-being of society.
This year’s theme, “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works,” according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), aims to track progress, evaluate impact and scale up proven approaches that improve breastfeeding outcomes
All over the world, health experts recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of an infant’s life, as it provides the child with all the nutrients required and shields them from infections For mothers, it lowers the risks of breast and ovarian cancers, as well as type 2 diabetes.
In line with this, UNICEF and WHO have jointly urged countries to invest in solutions such as strengthening health systems to provide quality breastfeeding support, expanding community-based counselling and peer programmes, ensuring paid maternity leave and supportive workplace policies, and integrating breastfeeding interventions into antenatal, perinatal and postnatal care
In the Nigerian context, some of these measures are already in place, even though they are unevenly applied For instance, federal civil servants already enjoy four months of maternity leave with full pay, while private-sector workers often receive three months with half pay.
However, some states, such as Lagos, have gone further by granting six months of full-pay maternity leave This shows intentionality and a deep understanding that, to achieve six months of exclusive breastfeeding, mothers must remain physically close to their infants. It also provides adequate time for new mothers to bond with their children and for their bodies to heal properly.
Such strategic steps, as exemplified by Lagos and some other states, could help scale up exclusive breastfeeding, which, according to WHO, could prevent nearly 400,000 child deaths and 140,000 maternal deaths annually
Again, UNICEF has acknowledged Nigeria’s progress in this aspect, noting a growth of more than 10 per cent between 2012 and 2024, with about 34 per cent of infants benefiting from exclusive breastfeeding Though this is considered a significant leap, it fell short of the WHO target of at least 50 per cent by 2025. Besides, since last year, the global target has been revised upward from 50 per cent of infants being exclusively breastfed during the first six months of life to 60 per cent by 2030.
Therefore, Nigeria’s situation, though commendable, remains insufficient The country has four years to invest in measurable reforms if it intends to meet the 2030 target. To this end, it must face and address the challenges confronting working mothers.
Short maternity leave forces many working mothers to return to their workplaces before completing the recommended six months of exclusive breastfeeding And in workplaces that lack child-friendly or breastfeeding-friendly provisions, the challenge is compounded, making it even harder for mothers to balance employment with infant-feeding practices. This reality undermines both maternal and mental health, as well as child development.
No doubt, Nigeria’s Labour Act provides nursing mothers with half an hour twice daily during working hours to breastfeed their children But this provision remains applicable in workplaces with child-friendly or breastfeeding-friendly facilities. Where these facilities are not present, the permitted 30 minutes twice daily becomes insufficient, as mothers may need far more time to leave the office, rush home to breastfeed and return to work. This gap highlights the urgent need for workplace reforms that genuinely support exclusive breastfeeding and the well-being of children.
For some of these reforms to be embraced, we must learn to view breastfeeding as more than a woman’s exclusive responsibility to her child and understand that it is a collective investment in human capital development It ensures the healthy growth and survival of the child, as well as enhances cognitive development, thereby laying the foundation for a productive future.
We therefore urge employers and communities to collaborate and create enabling environments for breastfeeding mothers through adequate maternity leave, flexible workplace policies and community support systems that empower mothers to practise exclusive breastfeeding
We reiterate that breastfeeding is a shared responsibility and therefore requires coordinated action across families, communities, workplaces and government This way, Nigeria can strengthen what works, secure a sustainable start in life for its children and perhaps meet the WHO target by 2030.