Bukola Afeni
Lagos State has recorded a 57.4 per cent exclusive breastfeeding rate, surpassing the global target of 50 per cent.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, disclosed this on Tuesday during a press briefing at the Lagos State Ministry of Health in Alausa to commemorate the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week.
She said while the state’s exclusive breastfeeding rate has surpassed the global target of 50 per cent, the rate of early breastfeeding initiation remains low at 14 per cent, describing it as an area requiring urgent attention.
Ogunyemi said this year’s theme, “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works,” highlights the need to sustain interventions that have improved infant nutrition while addressing existing gaps.
She described breastfeeding as one of the most effective ways to improve child survival, noting that exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, followed by appropriate complementary feeding alongside continued breastfeeding up to two years, supports healthy growth and protects children against illnesses.
“The importance of breastfeeding as a child survival strategy, especially in the first six months of life, cannot be over-emphasised. Breast milk is free, nutrient-dense, readily available and creates healthier children while promoting stronger bonding between mother and child,” she said.
The Special Adviser urged families, employers, healthcare workers, religious and community leaders to create an enabling environment for nursing mothers, stressing that breastfeeding outcomes improve when mothers receive adequate support.
She said the state has continued to strengthen maternal and child nutrition through healthcare worker training, breastfeeding counselling, nutrition education and enforcement of regulations guiding the marketing of breast-milk substitutes. According to her, all 334 Primary Health Centres, 29 secondary health facilities and the state’s tertiary health facility currently implement maternal, infant and young child nutrition programmes.
Ogunyemi attributed the low rate of breastfeeding within the first hour after delivery partly to misconceptions about colostrum, the first breast milk produced after childbirth, despite its health benefits for newborns.
She added that midwives in both public and private health facilities are being trained to encourage mothers to begin breastfeeding immediately after delivery.
Responding to questions, Ogunyemi dismissed claims that mothers who deliver through caesarean section cannot breastfeed early.
“A caesarean section is not a barrier to breastfeeding. Whether a mother delivers vaginally or through surgery, breastfeeding should begin as soon as possible, ideally within the first hour after birth,” she said.
