The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has expressed concern over the low rate of exclusive breastfeeding in Bauchi State, revealing that only 26 per cent of infants are exclusively breastfed during their first six months despite widespread awareness of its benefits.

The UNICEF Chief of Field Office in Bauchi, Dr Nuzhat Raffique, disclosed this during the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week celebration on Monday in Bauchi.

She said although more than nine out of every 10 mothers breastfeed their babies, only 12 per cent begin breastfeeding within the first hour after birth, a practice considered critical for newborn survival.

According to her, poor breastfeeding practices contribute significantly to diarrhoea, respiratory infections, malnutrition and preventable child deaths.

Dr Raffique urged mothers to initiate breastfeeding immediately after delivery, feed newborns with colostrum, avoid giving water, honey or herbal mixtures, and continue exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months before introducing complementary foods.

She also called on fathers, families, employers and government institutions to provide the necessary support for nursing mothers, noting that breastfeeding should not be the responsibility of mothers alone.

The UNICEF official, however, commended Governor Bala Mohammed for approving six months’ paid maternity leave and allocating N500 million counterpart funding for the Child Nutrition Fund, describing both interventions as critical to improving child nutrition outcomes in the state.

Earlier, the Executive Chairman of the Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Board, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, also urged mothers to ignore misconceptions linking breastfeeding to breast sagging, stressing that exclusive breastfeeding remains one of the most effective ways to prevent malnutrition and childhood diseases.

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