In honour of World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) 2025, the Plateau State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nicolas Ba’amlong, has made a clarion call for the establishment of sustainable support systems that promote and protect breastfeeding practices across communities, workplaces, and policy levels.
Speaking during a press briefing held at the Ministry of Health Conference Room, Dr. Ba’amlong underscored the importance of this year’s theme: “Prioritize Breastfeeding: Create a Sustainable Support System.”
> “Breastfeeding is more than a lifestyle choice; it is a public health imperative,” the Commissioner said. “It is the most effective and inexpensive way of ensuring the health and survival of infants.”
He expressed concern over Nigeria’s breastfeeding statistics, noting that while over 90% of mothers initiate breastfeeding, only 29% maintain exclusive breastfeeding for the recommended first six months. He added that early initiation of breastfeeding has dropped from 42% in 2018 to 36% in 2023, and only 23% of children are breastfed up to the age of two.
However, Dr. Ba’amlong highlighted a silver lining for Plateau State, which recorded a 38% exclusive breastfeeding rate in 2023, a marked improvement from previous years due to increased public awareness and targeted health initiatives.
The Commissioner identified key barriers hindering optimal breastfeeding in the state, including:
Cultural beliefs and misinformation (such as discarding colostrum or giving water too early),
Limited access to skilled postnatal care—especially for home-birth mothers,
Short maternity leave and poor workplace support for breastfeeding mothers,
Family pressures, particularly from mothers-in-law,
Educational challenges affecting young and adolescent mothers.
He also noted disparities between urban and rural settings, stating that urban mothers face more pressure due to work-related constraints and aggressive infant formula marketing, whereas rural mothers generally enjoy more supportive environments.
Dr. Ba’amlong detailed the Plateau State Ministry of Health’s initiatives, including:
Training of healthcare professionals in maternal and child nutrition,
Community promotion of exclusive breastfeeding,
Advocacy for extended maternity leave and breastfeeding-friendly work environments.
He called on stakeholders—from employers to traditional leaders—to join forces in creating an enabling environment for mothers. He also emphasized the vital role of the media in promoting breastfeeding awareness.
> “Let us work together to make breastfeeding the norm, not the exception. By prioritizing breastfeeding and creating sustainable support systems, we invest in a healthier, more resilient future for our children and communities,” he concluded.
Delivering the welcome address, Dr. Yakubu Dauda Izang, Director of Disease Control and Immunization at the Plateau State Primary Healthcare Board (PSPHCB), emphasized that exclusive breastfeeding plays a pivotal role in the healthy development of children and must be promoted across all levels.
Also speaking, Mrs. Tongmor Dabis, Nutrition Officer at PSPHCB, explained that exclusive breastfeeding not only boosts a child’s immunity and prevents malnutrition but also reduces the risk of chronic diseases later in life. She hailed the Plateau State Government’s six-month paid maternity leave policy for government-employed mothers and urged private sector employers to adopt similar standards.
Mr. Hosea Kelln Bitrus, Permanent Secretary of the Health Ministry, appreciated development partners and attendees for their continued support. He emphasized the risks associated with poor breastfeeding practices and encouraged participating mothers to pass on the information gained to others in their communities.
Global statistics shared at the event indicated that:
48% of infants (0–5 months) are exclusively breastfed globally—just shy of the 50% target set by the World Health Assembly for 2025.
46% of newborns are breastfed within the first hour of birth.
Exclusive breastfeeding could save over 820,000 children annually by reducing malnutrition, diarrheal diseases, and pneumonia.
The press briefing and awareness event were supported by the Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN) project, backed by the World Bank.
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