The Federal Government has launched a nationwide campaign aimed at improving nutrition during the first 1,000 days of a child’s life, describing the period as critical to a child’s growth, brain development and overall health.
The initiative, known as the 1,000 Days of Life Social and Behaviour Change Campaign, was unveiled on Monday in Abuja during the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week celebration.
Speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom, said the campaign is part of efforts to reduce child malnutrition and improve the health of mothers and children across Nigeria.
She described breastfeeding as one of the most effective and affordable ways to improve child survival, noting that this year’s World Breastfeeding Week theme, “Breastfeeding for Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works,” highlights the need for stronger policies, quality healthcare services, supportive workplaces and increased community involvement.
Kachollom explained that the period from pregnancy until a child’s second birthday offers a unique opportunity to build a healthy future. She warned that poor nutrition during this stage could lead to stunted growth, poor brain development, weak immunity and reduced productivity later in life.
She also expressed concern over low rates of recommended breastfeeding practices despite the high number of mothers who breastfeed. Citing the 2023/2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, she said only 36 per cent of babies are breastfed within one hour of birth, while 29 per cent receive only breast milk for the first six months. She added that just 23 per cent of children continue breastfeeding until they are two years old.
According to her, delayed breastfeeding, harmful cultural beliefs, inadequate counselling, poor workplace support, aggressive marketing of breastmilk substitutes and weak community participation remain major obstacles to optimal breastfeeding.
She called on parents, healthcare workers and communities to follow the recommendations of the World Health Organisation and UNICEF by starting breastfeeding within the first hour after birth, practising exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and continuing breastfeeding alongside appropriate complementary foods until at least two years of age.
