The Bauchi State government, with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Bauchi Field Office, has intensified community-driven advocacy to promote exclusive breastfeeding, maternal nutrition and child survival across the state.

Nuzhat Rafique, chief of the UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, said in a news conference on Monday that maternal nutrition begins with conception, particularly during the first trimester of pregnancy.

She said healthy mothers are critical to raising healthy children.

The engagement was part of activities to celebrate the 2026 World Exclusive Breastfeeding Week.

Ms Rafique called on communities to adopt sustainable approaches to tackle malnutrition by establishing support mechanisms for vulnerable pregnant and lactating women.

According to her, communities should initiate revolving community funds and other local support systems to provide nutritious food for poor households and ensure no mother or child is left behind.

She said more than 9,000 community-based volunteers, including members of the Fathers for Good Health and Mama-to-Mama support groups, have been trained to provide counselling and promote optimal infant feeding practices at the grassroots.

“Maternal health is important to child nutrition and survival,” she said.

The UNICEF official also urged journalists to organise town hall meetings across the state’s local government areas (LGAs) during the ongoing week to sustain advocacy on maternal nutrition and exclusive breastfeeding.

“The media are the eyes, ears and backbone of society. Your support is critical to ensuring that breastfeeding promotion continues throughout the year, not only during the commemorative week,” she said.

Ms Rafique expressed confidence that sustained advocacy, community mobilisation and government commitment would improve exclusive breastfeeding practices and reduce child malnutrition in the state.

Speaking, Rilwanu Mohammed, the executive secretary of the Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Board, cautioned against over-reliance on ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) in addressing malnutrition.

He stressed the need for communities to embrace healthy local diets for mothers and children, noting that RUTF should only be used for children diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition.

Mr Mohammed said the state government had approved six months’ maternity leave for nursing mothers and introduced crèche facilities in government offices to support exclusive breastfeeding.

He said that mothers must be adequately informed on early initiation of breastfeeding, mother-child bonding and exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life.

“We cannot continue waiting for RUTF before ensuring our children are well nourished.

“There are different forms of malnutrition. Some children are not severely malnourished but still wait for free RUTF.

“Our community mobilisers are engaging households to ensure caregivers have the right information on maternal health, child survival, nutrition and exclusive breastfeeding,” he said.

Philomena Irene, a nutrition specialist with the UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, said in her presentation that a series of activities had been rolled out across the state’s 20 LGAs.

The aim, she said, is to encourage exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life, improve complementary feeding practices and strengthen maternal nutrition.

She said healthcare workers would receive refresher training on breastfeeding counselling, proper positioning and attachment of babies, while students of nursing and midwifery institutions would also be equipped with the skills needed to support breastfeeding mothers.

Ms Irene added that the state would recognise and reward mothers who successfully practise exclusive breastfeeding, as well as fathers who actively support their spouses to encourage positive behavioural change.

According to her, the campaign will continue beyond the breastfeeding week, with annual recognition of outstanding families in all 20 LGAs.

The nutritionist observed that more than 90 per cent of mothers in Bauchi breastfeed their babies.

She added that the major challenge remains the practice of giving infants water before they attain six months of age, contrary to recommended exclusive breastfeeding practices. 

(NAN)