By Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
MAKURDI, Nigeria – The Benue State Government and the Otukpo Local Government Council have commended the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for its sustained support in promoting maternal and child healthcare, as thousands of breastfeeding mothers across the state joined the global celebration of World Breastfeeding Week 2026.
The week-long campaign, themed “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works,” featured awareness rallies, health education sessions and advocacy programmes aimed at encouraging exclusive breastfeeding and improving child nutrition.
In Otukpo Local Government Area, hundreds of lactating mothers defied heavy rainfall to participate in a rally held at the Primary Health Centre, where health professionals and development partners emphasized the importance of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a child’s life.
Exclusive Breastfeeding Improves Maternal, Child Health
Speaking during the event, the Nutrition Focal Person for Otukpo Local Government, Mrs. Ene Omale, educated mothers on the health benefits of breastfeeding.
According to her, breastfeeding helps control postpartum bleeding, enables the uterus to return to its normal size, strengthens mother-child bonding and contributes significantly to a child’s brain development and overall health.
She urged mothers to practice exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months before introducing complementary foods, while maintaining a balanced diet rich in vitamins and other essential nutrients.
“Mothers should eat nutritious meals to maintain their health and ensure adequate breast milk production for their babies,” she said.
Mothers Share Success Stories
One of the participants, Mrs. Okwa Aisha, who gave birth on August 4, said she had exclusively breastfed all three of her children and credited the practice for their good health and development.
She explained that she initiated breastfeeding immediately after delivery and described the awareness programme as an opportunity to deepen her understanding of proper infant feeding practices.
Another nursing mother, Mrs. Ene James Ogoli, whose baby is one week old, also said all her children had been exclusively breastfed for six months.
She noted that her children rarely fall ill and encouraged other mothers to embrace exclusive breastfeeding, describing it as vital for healthy growth and development.
Otukpo Council Reaffirms Partnership with UNICEF
Flagging off the awareness rally, Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, described UNICEF as one of the council’s most dependable development partners in maternal and child healthcare.
He said the council would continue collaborating with UNICEF, the Benue State Government and the Federal Government to strengthen public awareness on breastfeeding and provide counterpart funding to attract donor-supported health interventions.
“We will not relent in this partnership. We will continue to support programmes that improve maternal and child health across our communities,” Ogiri said.
Benue Government Commits to Better Maternal Healthcare
Benue State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Paul Ogwuche, praised UNICEF for its numerous interventions in the state’s healthcare sector, particularly in maternal and child nutrition.
He said the state government remained committed to strengthening its partnership with UNICEF to improve healthcare delivery and ensure that every child enjoys a healthy start in life.
Ogwuche described the first 1,000 days of a child’s life—from conception to the second birthday—as critical to cognitive development, nutrition and future productivity.
He stressed that breastfeeding provides the most affordable, natural and effective source of nutrition while transferring immunity from mother to child.
“Breast milk remains the cheapest, safest and most appropriate nutrition for every newborn. Healthy children today become productive citizens tomorrow,” he said.
The commissioner added that the administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia had created policies supporting maternal and child welfare, including maternity benefits and paternity leave for civil servants.
He disclosed that fathers in Benue State have been enjoying two weeks of paternity leave for more than two years, adding that government would continue exploring additional support for breastfeeding mothers.
UNICEF Calls for Stronger Policies
State Nutrition Facilitator for UNICEF, Benjamin Ugba, commended the Benue State Government and development partners for prioritising maternal and child nutrition.
He noted that optimal breastfeeding practices save more than 820,000 children’s lives globally each year, but expressed concern that only about 48 per cent of infants worldwide are exclusively breastfed, with Nigeria’s rate standing at approximately 34 per cent.
According to him, Benue State has recorded an encouraging exclusive breastfeeding rate of 56.8 per cent, reflecting progress while highlighting the need for sustained interventions to combat malnutrition and poverty.
Ugba urged governments to strengthen early breastfeeding initiation within the first hour after birth, expand community nutrition monitoring, support paid maternity leave and establish lactation-friendly workplaces.
He also called on traditional rulers, religious leaders and fathers to help eliminate cultural misconceptions surrounding breastfeeding.
“Breastfeeding should not be seen as the sole responsibility of mothers. Families, communities, employers and governments all have roles to play in protecting this natural gift for every child,” he said.
BSUTH Seeks Expanded Awareness Campaigns
Also speaking, the Chief Medical Director of the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Dr. Stephen Hwande, advocated intensified breastfeeding campaigns, particularly in rural communities, among working-class women and educated families.
He commended UNICEF for its consistent support for healthcare delivery in Benue State, stressing that government alone cannot meet all the health needs of citizens.
Hwande called for stronger collaboration between government, development partners and healthcare institutions to improve maternal and child health outcomes across the state.
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