By Lizzy Carr
The Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN), Bauchi State Chapter, in collaboration with the AIM/MNCH Project and the MWAN National MCH Committee, has commemorated the 2025 World Breastfeeding Week with a renewed call to prioritize breastfeeding and create sustainable support systems for nursing mothers.
This year’s campaign, held at the Miri Primary Health Care Centre, featured a health talk at the antenatal care (ANC) and immunization clinics. It was anchored on the sub-theme: “Prioritize Breastfeeding – A Lifeline Against Postpartum Hemorrhage.”
Speaking during the event, the President of the Bauchi MWAN Chapter, Dr. Ummi Hani Jafaru, highlighted the critical importance of early initiation of breastfeeding, stressing that every woman is expected to breastfeed her child within the first 30 minutes after birth.
She explained that exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a child’s life offers numerous benefits, including reduced risk of breast cancer for the mother, serving as a natural form of family planning, and helping to prevent postpartum hemorrhage. She added that breast milk contains all the essential nutrients a baby needs for healthy growth and development.
Participants, including expectant and nursing mothers, were educated on the frequency and duration of breastfeeding, including the significance of night feeding. The medical experts also encouraged women to embrace exclusive breastfeeding and called on husbands to provide the necessary support to their spouses during the breastfeeding period.
The session also provided a platform for men in attendance to ask questions and seek clarification on breastfeeding-related issues, in a bid to foster male involvement in maternal and child health.
The event is part of efforts to promote infant and maternal well-being in line with global health recommendations.
