The Wife of the Adamawa state governor, Hajiya Lami Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, has intensified advocacy for exclusive breastfeeding, urging mothers across the state to breastfeed their babies exclusively for the first six months of life to improve maternal and child health outcomes.

Hajiya Lami made the appeal on Wednesday during the flag-off of the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week at Nana Asma’u Primary Health Care Centre in Yola South local government council.

The event, organised by the Adamawa state government in collaboration with Helen Keller International, UNICEF and other development partners, brought together health professionals, government officials, traditional leaders, nursing mothers and other stakeholders to promote optimal infant and young child feeding practices.

Addressing participants, the First Lady described breastfeeding as one of the most effective and affordable interventions for reducing infant mortality, strengthening children’s immunity and ensuring healthy growth and development.

She stressed the importance of early initiation of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a baby’s life, noting that infants should receive only breast milk during the period, with no water or other foods.

According to her, the annual campaign serves as a reminder that every child deserves the best nutritional start in life through exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months after birth.

Hajiya Lami reaffirmed the commitment of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri’s administration to strengthening maternal, newborn and child healthcare through sustained investment in the health sector and programmes designed to improve the wellbeing of mothers and children across Adamawa state.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Alhaji Chubado Muhammad Jada, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Pharm. Mathias Zira Bubanani, urged mothers to embrace exclusive breastfeeding as the healthiest feeding option for newborns.

He said proper breastfeeding significantly reduces childhood illnesses, improves nutrition and contributes to better health outcomes for infants.

The Nutrition Programme Officer of the Transforming Lives Project at Helen Keller International, Musa Ali, outlined activities scheduled to mark the week-long campaign. He said the programme includes advocacy visits to health facilities, public enlightenment campaigns and the distribution of breastfeeding support materials to lactating mothers.

According to him, the activities are designed to complement the state’s efforts to improve maternal and child health services.

Als speaking, the UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Bauchi, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, described breastfeeding as one of the most important investments in the health, survival and development of every child.

She explained that this year’s theme, “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works,” calls for sustained investment in systems that enable mothers to successfully initiate and continue breastfeeding.

Dr. Rafique noted that mothers require support from families, communities, health workers, employers, governments and development partners to achieve optimal breastfeeding practices.

She called on fathers, grandmothers, traditional rulers and religious leaders to become champions of breastfeeding by supporting nursing mothers and strengthening community-based breastfeeding support systems.

She also urged healthcare providers to ensure that mothers initiate breastfeeding within one hour of delivery, receive accurate counselling during antenatal and postnatal care, and are supported to overcome common breastfeeding challenges.

Dr. Rafique further encouraged mothers to exclusively breastfeed their babies for the first six months and continue breastfeeding alongside appropriate complementary feeding until the child is at least two years old.

Some nursing mothers who spoke at the event shared their experiences with exclusive breastfeeding, describing it as essential to the healthy growth and development of their children.

World Breastfeeding Week is observed annually to raise awareness of the life-saving benefits of breastfeeding and to mobilise governments, healthcare institutions, communities and development partners to strengthen policies and programmes that support nursing mothers and promote healthy child development.