The Nigerian government has organised a series of activities to mark this year's World Breastfeeding Week, which aims to promote public awareness and support for breastfeeding.
This is stated in a statement issued on Monday by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
Ministry spokeswoman Patricia Deworitshe said the country recognises the importance of protecting the interests of vulnerable mothers who need help breastfeeding their children.
Ms Deworitshe said the Ministry, in collaboration with some of the sector's stakeholders, will participate in the global meeting from 1 to 7 August.
She said: “The week will kick off on August 1 with a record-breaking event for the largest number of lactating women breastfeeding simultaneously.”
During the week, the Ministry also plans to conduct community outreach activities across the country, training for health workers and media campaigns.
She said the campaign's overarching theme, “Closing the Gap, Breastfeeding Support for All,” emphasizes the collective responsibility to ensure that every mother receives the support she needs to make breastfeeding a successful and fulfilling experience.
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The statement reads in part: “To successfully breastfeed their babies, mothers need support from the health care system, family members, community members, and the workplace.
“This support is essential for successful breastfeeding because knowledge sharing, encouragement, support with household tasks, phone calls, and creating a supportive environment make the act of breastfeeding easier for the mother.
“Women in all settings need and deserve support to optimally breastfeed their babies.”
World Breastfeeding Week
World Breastfeeding Week is a global campaign held every year from 1 to 7 August. It is spearheaded by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), a global network that aims to protect, promote and support breastfeeding worldwide, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF.
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The week aims to promote breastfeeding and its many benefits for both mothers and babies and each year focuses on a specific theme to raise awareness and promote action on breastfeeding-related issues.
Through the campaign, the organizations emphasize the importance of providing mothers with the knowledge, support and resources they need to successfully breastfeed their babies, such as encouraging workplaces to offer lactation facilities and flexible schedules for breastfeeding mothers.