UNICEF Promotes Exclusive Breastfeeding in Kano Campaign

During a road walk in Kano to commemorate the global campaign for the 2026 Breastfeeding Week, Mr Shafeeq Ur-Rehman, Chief of UNICEF Kano Field Office, highlighted breastfeeding as a sustainable source of nutrition for infants and a key intervention to reduce maternal and child mortality. The theme for this year, “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works,” emphasizes investing in effective strategies to enhance child survival and development.

Ur-Rehman praised mothers in Kano for their dedication to breastfeeding but expressed concern over low rates of optimal breastfeeding practices, noting that while over 90% of Nigerian mothers breastfeed, fewer than 10% of newborns are breastfed within the first hour of birth, and only about 10% are exclusively breastfed for the first six months. He called for collective support from families, healthcare providers, employers, and governments, urging states like Kano, Jigawa, and Katsina to adopt six months of paid maternity leave.

Aishatu Suleiman, Kano State Nutrition Officer, stated the campaign aims to promote exclusive breastfeeding from birth to six months and continued breastfeeding up to two years.