The Nigerian government has announced a comprehensive lineup of activities to commemorate World Breastfeeding Week 2024, scheduled for August 1-7. The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare released a statement on Monday detailing the country’s plans to promote awareness and garner public support for breastfeeding.
Patricia Deworitshe, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, emphasized the government’s commitment to protecting vulnerable mothers who need assistance with breastfeeding.
She stated, “The week will be flagged off on the 1st of August with a record-breaking event for most lactating women breastfeeding simultaneously.”
The Explainer gathered that the ministry, in collaboration with key stakeholders in the health sector, has planned a series of events throughout the week. These include community outreach programs across the country, specialized training for health workers, and targeted media campaigns.
This year’s global theme, “Closing the Gap, Breastfeeding Support for All,” underscores the collective responsibility to ensure every mother receives adequate support for a successful and fulfilling breastfeeding experience.
The ministry’s statement further elaborated on the importance of support systems: “In order to successfully breastfeed their babies, mothers need support from the health system, family members, community members, and workplace. This support is critical to the success of breastfeeding because knowledge sharing, encouragement, support with household chores, call-ups, and creation of an enabling environment makes the act of breastfeeding easier for the mother.”
World Breastfeeding Week is an annual global campaign spearheaded by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF. The initiative aims to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding worldwide, highlighting its numerous benefits for both mothers and babies.
The campaign also focuses on advocating for supportive environments for breastfeeding mothers, including workplace policies that offer lactation facilities and flexible schedules for nursing mothers.
As Nigeria joins the global community in this important health initiative, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare reaffirms its commitment to supporting breastfeeding mothers across the nation.
