NAFDAC advises Jigawa mothers on optimal breastfeeding practice

The Jigawa office of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has advised mothers in the state to embrace optimal breastfeeding practice to ensure survival, growth and development of children in their first 100 days.

The NAFDAC Coordinator in the state, Mr Mansur Abubakar, gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Dutse on Friday to commemorate the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week (WBW).

Newsmen report that the WBW takes place from Aug. 1 to Aug. 7 and the 2026 edition of the global observance has “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works” as its theme, emphasising proven support systems, stronger policies, and coordinated community action.

Abubakar said to ensure that its message reached the grassroots, the agency, in collaboration with the Breast Milk Substitutes (BMS) multisectoral technical committee organised a radio sensitisation programme to enlighten the public about the importance of breastfeeding with this year’s theme “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works”.

He explained that the programme was aired live through the major spoken languages in the state to ensure proper understanding and practice.

The coordinator added that the agency’s BMS unit, along with the state’s chapter of National Association of Nurses and Midwives (NANM), presented a community sensitisation to promote optimal breastfeeding practice, shedding more light on NAFDAC mandates, the international code of marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes and the 10 articles of the code.

According to him, the two bodies also highlighted the importance of breastfeeding to babies, mothers and the entire public.

He added that “as a team, we also highlighted the risks associated with not breastfeeding a child and in conclusion, questions were asked through phone calls and answers were given accordingly.”