The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says breastfeeding is one of the most effective investments in child survival, health, nutrition and national development.
The Chief of UNICEF Field office, Enugu, Juliet Chiluwe, said this in a statement on Sunday to mark the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week in Enugu.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that this year’s week runs from 1 August to 7 August, with the theme: “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works.”
Mrs Chiluwe said that although more than 90 per cent of Nigerian mothers breastfeed, optimal breastfeeding practices remained below national and global targets.
She said that in the 2023-2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), only 29 per cent of infants under six are exclusively breastfed.
