Morganable news/Health
Health experts have consistently identified this early phase as critical for physical growth, brain development and the building of a strong immune system
kaNo —
The Federal Government on Monday intensified efforts to combat child malnutrition with the launch of a nationwide “1,000 Days of Life” Social and Behaviour Change Campaign, targeting improved nutrition for mothers and children.
The initiative was unveiled in Abuja during the 2026 commemoration of World Breastfeeding Week, with officials describing the programme as a strategic intervention aimed at promoting healthy practices from pregnancy through a child’s second birthday.
Speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding, describing it as one of the most effective and cost-efficient ways to improve child survival and development outcomes.
She said the theme for this year’s World Breastfeeding Week, “Breastfeeding for Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works,” underscores the need for stronger policies, improved health services, breastfeeding-friendly workplaces and increased community support systems for mothers across Nigeria.
“Breastfeeding is one of the most effective, life-saving and cost-effective interventions for ensuring healthy child survival and development,” Kachollom said, noting that the first 1,000 days of life from conception to a child’s second birthday represent a crucial window for shaping long-term health outcomes.
Experts Say Breastfeeding Critical In Child Development
Health experts have consistently identified this early phase as critical for physical growth, brain development and the building of a strong immune system.
Despite high breastfeeding rates in Nigeria, she expressed concern that optimal practices remain significantly below global recommendations.
Citing findings from the 2023/2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, she revealed that while about 95 per cent of Nigerian mothers breastfeed, only 36 per cent initiate breastfeeding within the first hour after birth.
“These figures remind us that much more needs to be done. We must strengthen our collective commitment to ensuring that every child receives the best possible start in life.”She said
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Kachollom urged Nigerians to adopt guidelines recommended by the World Health Organization and UNICEF, including initiating breastfeeding within one hour of birth, practicing exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and continuing breastfeeding alongside appropriate complementary feeding up to two years and beyond.
She identified several barriers to optimal breastfeeding practices in the country, including delayed initiation, harmful cultural beliefs, inadequate counselling, limited workplace support for nursing mothers, aggressive marketing of breastmilk substitutes and weak community engagement.
“Overcoming these challenges requires collective action by governments, healthcare workers, employers, development partners, communities and families,” she added.
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Other measures include building the capacity of health workers, strengthening enforcement of regulations on breastmilk substitutes, promoting breastfeeding-friendly workplaces and supporting community-based breastfeeding groups.
Kachollom explained that the newly launched campaign would focus on raising awareness, encouraging behavioural change and mobilising families and communities to adopt evidence-based nutrition practices during pregnancy, infancy and early childhood.
“The campaign promotes improved maternal nutrition, early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding, timely complementary feeding, continued breastfeeding and stronger community ownership of optimal nutrition practices,” she said.
She also called on expectant mothers and nursing mothers to take advantage of essential healthcare services, including antenatal care, safe delivery, postnatal care, immunisation and nutrition support available at Primary Health Care Centres across the country.
Earlier in her remarks, the Director of Nutrition at the ministry, Olufunmilola Adegbite, stressed that breastfeeding should not be viewed solely as a maternal responsibility but as a critical national investment.
“Breastfeeding is not only a health intervention but an investment in education, economic productivity, environmental sustainability and national development,” Adegbite said.
“A child who receives adequate nutrition during the first 1,000 days is more likely to become a healthy, educated and productive adult.”He added
She said the Vice President had directed that breastfeeding be treated as a national development priority rather than merely a personal or maternal choice.
“This is why the Vice President has directed that breastfeeding be treated not only as a maternal choice, but as a national investment,” she said. “A breastfed child is a healthier child, a smarter child and a more productive citizen in waiting.”
Rochas-Anwukah added that the Office of the Vice President welcomed the launch of the campaign and urged stakeholders to ensure that its impact reaches all parts of the country, including the 774 local government areas, wards, primary healthcare centres and households.
They stressed that sustained investment in nutrition programmes and community-based interventions would be essential to reversing current trends.
They also emphasised the importance of multisectoral collaboration involving government agencies, civil society organisations, development partners and the private sector to ensure the success of the campaign.
The launch of the 1,000 Days of Life campaign is expected to complement existing health and nutrition initiatives, while strengthening efforts to improve maternal and child health outcomes nationwide.
As Nigeria grapples with rising food insecurity and economic pressures that affect household nutrition, stakeholders say the campaign offers a timely opportunity to refocus attention on early childhood nutrition as a foundation for national development.
