Adamawa First Lady Intensifies Campaign for Exclusive Breastfeeding

YOLA —By Ojoma Yusuf,Yola

The Wife of the Adamawa State Governor, Hajiya Lami Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, has called on mothers across the state to exclusively breastfeed their babies for the first six months of life, describing the practice as a critical step toward improving maternal and child health.

Hajiya Lami made the call on Wednesday during the flag-off of the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week at Nana Asma’u Primary Health Care Centre in Yola South Local Government Area.

The event, organised by the Adamawa State Government in collaboration with Helen Keller International, UNICEF and other development partners, brought together health professionals, government officials, traditional leaders, nursing mothers and other stakeholders to promote optimal infant and young child feeding practices.

Addressing participants, the First Lady described breastfeeding as one of the most effective and affordable interventions for reducing infant mortality, strengthening children’s immunity and ensuring healthy growth and development.

She stressed the importance of initiating breastfeeding within one hour of birth and maintaining exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a baby’s life, emphasising that infants should receive only breast milk during the period, without water or any other food.

According to her, World Breastfeeding Week serves as a reminder that every child deserves the best nutritional start in life through exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months after birth.

Hajiya Lami also reaffirmed the commitment of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri’s administration to strengthening maternal, newborn and child healthcare through sustained investment in the health sector and programmes aimed at improving the wellbeing of women and children across Adamawa State.

Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Alhaji Chubado Muhammad Jada, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Pharm. Mathias Zira Bubanani, urged mothers to adopt exclusive breastfeeding as the healthiest feeding option for newborns.

He noted that proper breastfeeding significantly reduces childhood illnesses, improves nutrition and contributes to better health outcomes for infants.

The Nutrition Programme Officer of the Transforming Lives Project at Helen Keller International, Musa Ali, outlined activities lined up to commemorate the week-long campaign. He said the programme includes advocacy visits to health facilities, public enlightenment campaigns and the distribution of breastfeeding support materials to lactating mothers.

According to him, the activities are designed to complement the state’s efforts to improve maternal and child health services.

Also speaking, the UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Bauchi, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, described breastfeeding as one of the most important investments in the health, survival and development of every child.

She said this year’s theme, “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works,” underscores the need for sustained investment in systems that enable mothers to successfully initiate and continue breastfeeding.

Dr. Rafique noted that mothers require support from families, communities, health workers, employers, governments and development partners to achieve optimal breastfeeding practices.

She called on fathers, grandmothers, traditional rulers and religious leaders to champion breastfeeding by supporting nursing mothers and strengthening community-based breastfeeding support systems.

She also urged healthcare providers to ensure that mothers initiate breastfeeding within one hour of delivery, receive accurate counselling during antenatal and postnatal care, and are supported to overcome common breastfeeding challenges.

Dr. Rafique further encouraged mothers to exclusively breastfeed their babies for the first six months and continue breastfeeding alongside appropriate complementary feeding until the child is at least two years old.

Some nursing mothers at the event shared their experiences with exclusive breastfeeding, describing it as essential for the healthy growth, development and wellbeing of their children.

World Breastfeeding Week is observed annually to raise awareness of the life-saving benefits of breastfeeding and to mobilise governments, healthcare institutions, communities and development partners to strengthen policies and programmes that support nursing mothers and promote healthy child development.