By Mohammed Nasir Shuaibu (Bauchi State Correspondent)
Communities across Bauchi State have been urged to play more active roles in supporting nursing mothers as activities to commemorate the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week gather momentum.
Speaking during the street walk awareness campaign, CS-SUNN State chairperson, Dabis Mwalike said the campaign, observed globally during the first week of August, promotes breastfeeding as one of the most effective ways to improve child survival, maternal health and family wellbeing.
This year's theme, "Strengthening What Works," calls on governments, communities and families to reinforce successful breastfeeding practices.
Dabis Mwalike emphasised that exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months provides babies with complete nutrition and protects them from common childhood illnesses, while also offering important health benefits to mothers.
She appealed to fathers to support their wives by assisting with childcare and household responsibilities, enabling mothers to breastfeed exclusively.
Also speaking, the director public health, Samira Muhammad encouraged Traditional and religious leaders were to use their influence to promote breastfeeding as an important cultural and moral responsibility, while employers were urged to provide flexible and breastfeeding-friendly work environments.
She also tasked Health workers to ensuring that every pregnant woman receives counselling on breastfeeding and that every newborn is breastfed within the first hour after delivery.
Samira expressed optimism that stronger community support, effective policies and sustained public awareness would help Bauchi improve its exclusive breastfeeding rate and give more children a healthier start in life. NNL.
