Nigeria Launches 1,000 Days Campaign To Boost Maternal, Child Nutrition –
Federal Government Launches Nationwide Maternal and Child Nutrition Campaign
ABUJA — The Federal Government has officially launched the “1,000 Days of Life Social and Behaviour Change Campaign” aimed at enhancing maternal and child nutrition through the promotion of breastfeeding and healthy feeding practices. The campaign targets the crucial period from conception to a child’s second birthday.
The initiative was introduced on Monday during events marking the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week, themed “Breastfeeding for Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works.”
Daju Kachollom, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, emphasized the importance of breastfeeding as an effective intervention for improving child survival and development. “Every child deserves the healthiest possible start to life. Protecting the first 1,000 days is one of the smartest investments we can make for Nigeria’s future, and breastfeeding remains one of the most powerful tools to achieve that,” she stated.
Despite high breastfeeding rates among Nigerian mothers, the campaign responds to concerning statistics. The 2023/2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey indicates that while 95% of mothers initiate breastfeeding, only 36% do so within the first hour after birth. Furthermore, only 29% exclusively breastfeed for the first six months, and just 23% continue breastfeeding until the age of two, all figures falling short of global recommendations.
Kachollom attributed these low rates to several factors, including delayed initiation of breastfeeding, harmful cultural beliefs, inadequate maternal counselling, limited workplace support, and aggressive marketing of breastmilk substitutes.
To address these challenges, the government is enhancing the National Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Nutrition Strategy, expanding Baby-Friendly Hospital and Community Initiatives, enforcing regulations on breastmilk substitute marketing, training healthcare workers, and encouraging breastfeeding-friendly workplace policies.
The new campaign aims to mobilize families, communities, and health workers to promote improved maternal nutrition, timely initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, appropriate complementary feeding, and continued breastfeeding up to two years and beyond. It also seeks to increase the utilization of Primary Health Care Centres for maternal and child health services.
Olufunmilola Adegbite, Director of Nutrition, characterized the campaign as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s human capital, with UNICEF and other development partners pledging continued technical and advocacy support.
Uju Rochas-Anwukah, speaking on behalf of Vice President Kashim Shettima, urged stakeholders to ensure the campaign reaches communities across all 774 local government areas, framing breastfeeding as a vital investment in Nigeria’s future.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare reiterated its commitment to work collaboratively with state governments, healthcare providers, employers, development partners, and communities to enhance breastfeeding support systems and improve maternal and child nutrition nationwide.
