Abuja: The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has encouraged mothers to exclusively breastfeed their infants for the initial six months, emphasizing that breast milk serves as a crucial foundation for healthy growth. Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, the Mandate Secretary of the Health Services and Environment Secretariat (HSES), made this appeal during the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week activities.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the annual campaign aims to promote and enhance breastfeeding practices worldwide, while also highlighting its health benefits for both mothers and children. Dr. Fasawe elaborated on how breast milk, especially colostrum-the first milk produced post-birth-acts as a baby’s initial immunization, offering protection against various diseases. She stated, “A well-fed baby is a healthy baby. Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, alongside routine immunization, is sufficient to support a child’s healthy growth and development.”
Dr. Fasawe cited studies showing th
at children who are exclusively breastfed often demonstrate superior cognitive development, improved brain function, and better educational outcomes in the long term. She urged families, employers, religious organizations, and communities to support breastfeeding mothers by creating enabling environments and providing suitable spaces for nursing infants. Fasawe asserted, “Breastfeeding works. It is free, affordable, promotes healthy growth, and helps protect children from diseases.”
Furthermore, Dr. Fasawe encouraged pregnant women in the FCT to register for antenatal care and deliver in healthcare facilities staffed by trained professionals. Addressing concerns about service charges, she clarified that antenatal care is free at all 62 Basic Healthcare Provision Fund-supported primary healthcare centers across the FCT. She assured that pregnant women referred from primary healthcare centers to general hospitals for specialized services, including Caesarean sections, would receive free treatment.
The mandate
secretary also urged residents to report any unauthorized charges to the HSES and to enroll in the FCT Health Insurance Scheme (FHIS) for affordable healthcare access. Dr. Dan Gadzama, the Executive Secretary of the FCT Primary Health Care Board (FPHCB), emphasized the 2026 theme’s focus on sustaining proven interventions. Represented by Dr. Aderonke Akande, Gadzama advocated that every newborn should be breastfed within one hour of birth, calling breast milk the safest and most effective nutritional source.
World Health Organization (WHO) representative Mr. Oguche Wilson described exclusive breastfeeding as a safe, affordable, and cost-effective method of providing infants with essential nutrition. He remarked, “Nutrition provides the body with energy, supports growth, and promotes good health. Breastfeeding offers these same benefits and remains the best source of nutrition for infants.”
Wilson also noted that more than 800,000 women had directly benefited from primary healthcare services in the FCT, with
child malnutrition rates on the decline. He added that routine immunization coverage had significantly improved, climbing from approximately 63 percent to over 73 percent due to sustained healthcare investments.