Army, nutritionists advocate exclusive breastfeeding, urge support for nursing mothers

By Ochiaka Ugwu

Nigerian Army and nutritionists have advocated exclusive breast feeding for infants for the first six months at the celebration of the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week in Abuja.

While strongly noting that exclusive breastfeeding practice should ensure that an infant is fed only breast milk for the first six months of life, with no other liquids or solids given—not even water, they also urged support for breastfeeding mothers to enable them breastfeed without hinderance.

Speaking at the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week celebration in Abuja Saturday organized by Nutrition Society of Nigeria, FCT Chapter in collaboration with Army Command, and NAOWA Hospital Asokoro, Director and Head of Nutrition Department, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Mrs. Olufunmilola Adegbite while thanking the women for turning up for the event and appreciating Lt. Col. Ayuba for the support in making the event successful urged support for breastfeeding mothers noting they need community support to thrive and be healthy.

Stressing the need to exclusively give infants breastmilk for the first six months after birth, Adegbite informed that the first very yellowish milk which is called colostrum was vital in the growth of the child as it gives immunity from childhood diseases.

She said that many things have worked in advancing breastfeeding stressing the need to strengthen the practice.

She noted that breastfeeding does not only begin from the first day of giving birth, but within one hour of child birth.

“We are glad that the Army is really taking care of their people. Their work is showing greatly. I was told that there is a big hospital here, heavily equipped for children. Women and entire family. I thank Lt. Col. Ayuba for the work he is doing here. Taking care of the health of the community is the number one thing. When the community is healthy, there must be positive outcomes.

“We have a lot of things that have worked in our country in terms of breastfeeding and we want to strengthen it.

“The whole world, starting from today to next seven days is celebrating every breastfeeding mother. I will like to say that Nigeria is facing a lot of malnutrition issues starting with children less than six months. They have challenges of malnutrition because they are not well fed. “Breastfeeding starts from the day a child is born. And not only from that day, but within one hour of giving birth. The child must be put to breast. If you give birth by 6: 00 AM, at 7:00 AM, the baby must be put to breast. The first thing that comes out of the breast, is the very yellowish milk which is called colostrum.

“Colostrum is very useful as it is the first natural vaccine the child collects from the mother. It protects and gives the child immunity from diseases” she stated.

Also speaking, Chief Medical Director of Army Command and NAOWA Hospital Asokoro, Brig-Gen. Abraham Sunday Ayeni said that Breastfeeding Week has come to stay and serves as a particular moment to celebrate mothers.

Gen. Ayeni said that mothers provide the greatest sacrifices to humanity starting from the time of pregnancy to birth and two years of intensive nursing.

Ayeni informed that Nigerian Army promotes exclusive breastfeeding not only for breastfeeding mothers, but fellow personnel who support their wives.

Commanding Officer, 7 Guards Battalion, Nigerian Army, Lungi Barracks, Abuja, Lt. Col. Olayinka Ismaila Ayuba while expressing appreciation for choosing the barracks to create awareness on the importance of breastfeeding said he was convinced that attendees have learnt a lot from the interactions.

The celebration themed: “Breastfeeding For a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works” was characterized by deep interactions, sensitizations, song rendition, discussions and practical demonstrations as mothers were made to show how they place their children while breastfeeding them for better outcome.