By Amos Aar
THE BENUE State University Teaching Hospital, in collaboration with the State Primary Health Care Board and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), on Friday, August 1, 2025, flagged off the 2025 World Breastfeeding Week with a dual event held at the Teaching Hospital and the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp at the Makurdi International Market.
At the Teaching Hospital, the Chief Medical Director, Dr. Stephen Hwande, encouraged mothers to embrace exclusive breastfeeding, assuring them that the benefits far outweigh concerns over changes in body appearance. “Don’t shy away from exclusive breastfeeding because your breasts will fall. It will save you money, as you won’t have to hospitalize your children often,” he said.
Delivering the keynote speech, Chief of UNICEF Field Office Enugu, Juliet Chiluwe, emphasized the importance of sustainable systems that prioritize mothers and infants.
“Breastfeeding is not just food. It is a newborn’s first vaccine, first hug, and the first promise of survival,” she declared, noting that while over 90% of Nigerian mothers initiate breastfeeding, only 47% in Benue State breastfeed within the first hour of life, and just 56.7% exclusively breastfeed for six months, below the national goal of 65% and the global target of 60%.
She stressed that the problem is not mothers’ unwillingness to breastfeed, but a lack of enabling support systems. “We cannot counsel a mother to breastfeed and then give her no support, no time, no space, and expect miracles,” she said.
Chiluwe called for hands-on training of frontline health workers, investment in community health workers, enforcement of maternity protection policies including six-month paid maternity leave, and the creation of lactation spaces in workplaces.
Speaking at the IDP camp, Executive Secretary of the State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Ashi Wende, expressed gratitude to breastfeeding mothers and partners, while underscoring the theme of the year: “Prioritize Breastfeeding: Creating Sustainable Support Systems.”
She reiterated that breast milk alone is sufficient in the first six months of life, requiring no additional water.
Wende detailed the benefits of breastfeeding for both babies and mothers, including improved immunity, cognitive development, lower disease risk, uterine recovery, weight loss, and cost-effectiveness. “Despite the difficulties, breastfeeding remains a vital component of infant and young child feeding,” she noted.
The executive secretary disclosed that the board plans to conduct a week-long campaign including counselling, education, and sensitization, particularly targeting the private sector to establish breastfeeding corners, crèches, and implement six months’ annual leave for breastfeeding mothers.
She however informed that enquiries form breastfeeding mothers will be still be attended to, after the 7-day period.
In her good will message, president of the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria, Benue State chapter, Dr. Patience Okpeh, also lent her voice to the advocacy. “What exclusive breastfeeding can give, artificial breastfeeding can’t,” she asserted stressing its benefits in raising healthier and more intelligent children.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, Head of Pediatrics at the teaching hospital, Prof. Edwin Esiegbe, also encouraged mothers to prioritize breastfeeding for the health and development of their children.
At the IDP camp, breastfeeding women sang and danced in celebration, echoing the message of breastfeeding after they were addressed extensively. UNICEF and other partners joined in, creating a vibrant atmosphere of solidarity and support by participating joyfully in the dance session.
