By Samuel Luka

The Executive Chairman, Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Board, Dr Rilwanu Muhammad has urged mothers to practice exclusive breastfeeding, describing it as the most cost-effective defence against child malnutrition, maternal cancers and rising household costs.

He made the call on Monday during a press briefing to mark the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week, observed globally from August 1 to 7.

Dr. Muhammad said malnutrition in Nigeria is driven by poverty, inflation and poor knowledge of available resources.  

“Number one is the high poverty level. The income of many families is less than $1 per day. Then there is inflation, and lack of knowledge of the things that we already have,” Dr. Muhammad said.

“If you feed the mother well, everything goes to the child.” He revealed.

The health chief who described breast milk as a child’s first form of protection, both nutrition and medicine said, "it is highly nutritious. It is an antibiotic for the baby. It is the first immunisation of the child."

He also linked breastfeeding to long-term cancer prevention in women.  

“One of the most important benefits is that it prevents cancers. There are three major cancers: cancer of the breast, cancer of the cervix, and cancer of the ovaries. Breastfeeding helps to prevent their occurrence. Now, because many women are not breastfeeding, we are seeing a lot of women presenting with cancer,” he said.

Dr. Muhammad said the advocacy coincides with the state’s intensified delivery of maternal and child health services during the Federal Government’s Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Weeks, held in May/June and November/December each year. 

The Executive Chairman who identified UNICEF as the programme’s biggest partner, explained that during MNCH Weeks, the board distributes Vitamin A, deworming tablets, folic acid, multiple micronutrient supplements and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine for pregnant women, alongside family planning, antenatal care, immunisation and health education.

Dr. Muhammad listed four key roles of Vitamin A: “to improve immunity, improve eyesight, maintain healthy skin, and prevent diarrhoea. It also supports growth in children.”

He urged journalists to help educate communities that good nutrition starts at home and does not always require money.

“We are here to inform journalists that we need to educate our people to live healthy, stay healthy, and provide our children with nutrition,” he said.

The board said it will continue to monitor MNCH Week supplies to ensure they reach intended beneficiaries, while stepping up community sensitisation on exclusive breastfeeding as a free, safe and life-saving practice.