The Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), in commemoration of World Breastfeeding Week 2026, has called for concerted efforts and supports of all stakeholders to promote effective breastfeeding practice in Nigeria.
The event, organised by the Paediatric Department, LUTH, had the theme: “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works” on Wednesday in Lagos.
Speaking, the Director of Nursing Hospital Services, LUTH, Mrs Akinola Olajumoke, said the programme aimed to educate the health workers, mothers, families and the general public on the importance of breastfeeding and breast milk.
Representing the LUTH management, Olajumoke highlighted impacts of the hospital’s baby-friendly initiative (breastfeeding), since its inception in 1991.
“Breastfeeding event is a week-long programme, and the hospital’s baby-friendly initiative has made great impacts, producing healthy babies for the next generation.
“With the advent of this paternity leave and maternity leave with pay that the Federal Government has introduced, we are really complying.
“If any staff gives birth today, that person is entitled to six months maternity leave with pay, and 14 days paternity leave with pay for the men.
“As a result of that, we are turning out healthier children, healthier neonates. And it doesn’t stop there; even in our labour and neonatal wards, we encourage mothers to breastfeed.
“When mothers come for postnatal visits, we are always very happy that they are really raising healthy babies,” Olajumoke said.
The Provost, College of Medicine, University of Lagos (CMUL), Prof. Ademola Oremosu, described breastfeeding as a very important thing, calling for holistic support of the family, organisations, policymakers and the general public to breastfeeding practice.
Representated by Prof. Daniel Odebiyi, the Deputy Provost, CMUL, Oremosu, underscored need for the government to put up programmes on breastfeeding, saying that both the mother and baby need to be trained.
The Keynote Speaker, Prof. Abiola Oduwole described breastfeeding as a powerful foundation for lifelong health, development, and sustainability, emphasising need for strong support system.
Oduwole, also a Constant Paediatric, explained that government had a role to protect women from going for the substitutes/alternatives to breastfeeding by ensuring the provision of a conducive and flexible working options for women, particularly those in the private sector.
According to her, 12 out of the 36 states of the federation have keyed into the baby-friendly initiative, with Lagos State being the third.
“Creating a conducive working environment that encourages breastfeeding has become imperative in the face of multiple challenges faced by working class mothers as they strive to practice exclusive breastfeeding.
“The six months maternity leave given to working mothers in some states and at the Federal level should be applicable in all states of the federation including in the private sector settings.
“This is because the window period gives ample opportunity for mothers to breastfed and take good care of the baby.
“For every safe delivery where the mother is alive, healthy and lactating well, there is no reason whatsoever to go for formula/substitutes to breast milk,” she said.
She urged mothers to ensure they adopted the 1: 6: 24 ratio approach, which implied introducing breast milk to the baby one hour after birth, exclusively breastfeeding the baby for six months, and then introduce complementary foods alongside with breastfeeding for 24 months.
Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Edamisan Temiye, underscored need for training the mothers breastfeeding before the baby was born, explained that the breast would dry up if no baby sucks it after three days of birth.
The event featured panelists session where dieticians, paediatric doctors, nursing mothers and alike deliberated on the myths surrounding breastfeeding in Nigeria, and proffered solutions on the way forward.
Dignitaries at event organised by LUTH to mark World Breastfeeding Week in Lagos
