As the global community commemorates World Breastfeeding Week (August 1st–7th), a leading paediatric consultant at the General Hospital, Ijede, Dr. Olufunke Olugbade, has issued a clarion call to breastfeeding and expectant mothers across Lagos State to fully embrace exclusive breastfeeding and amplify the state government's advocacy around it.
Speaking at an event held at the hospital in honour of World Breastfeeding Week 2025, Dr. Olugbade emphasized the lifesaving and long-term benefits of exclusive breastfeeding, both for infants and mothers.
“Exclusive breastfeeding helps prevent breast cancer, aids the mother’s healing process post-delivery, strengthens the baby’s immune system, and supports the development of a higher intelligence quotient (IQ) in children,” she explained.
She added that the practice is not only cost-effective but also significantly reduces the risk of infectious diseases, boosts maternal-infant bonding, and supports the mother’s body to return to its normal physiological state.
This year’s global theme, as declared by the World Health Organization (WHO), is:
“Prioritise Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support”
— a call to action for governments, health institutions, families, and communities to build environments where breastfeeding is protected and promoted.
Dr. Olugbade’s message aligns with Lagos State’s ongoing maternal and child health initiatives, reinforcing the importance of community-level awareness, prenatal education, and hospital-based support systems to sustain exclusive breastfeeding, especially during a child's first six months.
She also encouraged community health workers, fathers, and family members to provide emotional, nutritional, and logistical support to nursing mothers, saying:
“Breastfeeding is not the mother’s job alone — it’s a community commitment to securing the health of our next generation.”
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🔍 About World Breastfeeding Week
World Breastfeeding Week is marked every August 1st to 7th, to raise awareness about the critical importance of breastfeeding for the survival, health, and well-being of babies and mothers.
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— Stone Reporters Health & Family Desk
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