As part of activities marking World Breastfeeding Week, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has organised rallies across Kano State in partnership with U-Reporters and other youth groups to raise awareness on the benefits of breastfeeding.
The rallies were simultaneously held at several key locations, including Dangi Roundabout, KSIP Roundabout along Ahmadu Bello Way, Central Road, Triumph Roundabout, Lagos Street, Hotoro Roundabout on the Eastern Bypass, Government House Roundabout along State Road, and Abubakar Rimi Market.
Other sites included Kofar Gadon Kaya, Kofar Nasarawa, Gadar Lado along Zaria Road, and Yankaba Market along Hadejia Road.
Speaking at the Dangi Roundabout rally, Team Lead Malik Muhammad Abdullahi explained that the initiative sought to promote the importance of exclusive breastfeeding, noting that feeding a child solely on breast milk for the first six months can prevent deadly childhood diseases and other health challenges.
Another U-Reporter, Yahanasu Adam, called for greater support for breastfeeding mothers, stressing the need for balanced diets and proper hygiene to protect both mother and child.
During the rallies, youth volunteers engaged directly with mothers and passersby, sharing information and encouraging healthy practices.
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Maryam Shehu, a mother of triplets, shared how exclusive breastfeeding gave her children a healthy start, a decision encouraged during her antenatal care at Sheka Primary Healthcare Centre.
Similarly, another mother, Yahanasu Danladi, said breastfeeding helped her daughter overcome diarrhoea and other health issues caused by unsafe water.
The Government of Nigeria, in partnership with UNICEF, has reiterated the urgent need to prioritise breastfeeding by creating sustainable support systems for mothers nationwide.
This year’s theme, “Prioritise Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems,” highlights the critical role of breast milk in child survival, growth, and healthy development.
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“Breast milk is central to child survival and development. We all have a role to play in supporting mothers to breastfeed effectively,” said UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative, Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef.
Breast milk, rich in antibodies, protects children from disease, supports brain development, and reduces obesity risks. For mothers, it lowers the likelihood of certain cancers and Type II diabetes. It is also a sustainable, climate-friendly, and cost-effective feeding option.
However, the 2023–24 National Demographic and Health Survey shows early initiation of breastfeeding has dropped from 42% in 2018 to 36% in 2023, exclusive breastfeeding rates have stagnated at 29%, and only 23% of children are breastfed up to the recommended two years.
“This World Breastfeeding Week, let us mark the occasion not just with words, but with action,” Abdelatef urged.