By Remi Johnson
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has reaffirmed its commitment to improving maternal and child health through intensified sensitization on exclusive breastfeeding and the prevention of infectious diseases.
The commitment was made during the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week commemoration and Town Hall Meeting on Infectious Disease Prevention held in Abuja.
The event brought together development partners, the World Health Organization (WHO), donor agencies, religious leaders, community leaders, healthcare workers and other critical stakeholders to promote healthier communities.
Speaking at the event, Mandate Secretary of the FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, described breastfeeding as one of the cheapest, safest and most effective life-saving health interventions.
She said the global observance, held from August 1 to 7, provides an opportunity to strengthen proven strategies that improve maternal and child health.
According to her, this year’s theme, “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthening What Works,” underscores the need to reinforce existing evidence-based interventions that save lives.
Dr. Fasawe stressed that exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months provides infants with all the nutrients required for healthy growth while protecting them against diarrhoea, pneumonia and other childhood illnesses.
She noted that breastfeeding strengthens immunity, enhances cognitive development and contributes to better educational outcomes later in life.
She added that breastfeeding is equally beneficial to mothers by reducing the risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer and certain forms of diabetes.
She further explained that breastfeeding benefits families and the wider economy by reducing healthcare costs, eliminating the need for infant formula and feeding equipment, and promoting healthy birth spacing.
Fasawe who described breastfeeding as a natural, sustainable and cost-effective investment in human capital development, noted that breastfeeding also saves time and energy for nursing mothers while reducing environmental waste associated with preparing artificial feeds.
Dr. Fasawe however expressed concern that exclusive breastfeeding rates in the FCT remain low citing the 2023 National Demographic and Health Survey, which showed a stunting rate of 16 percent, an underweight prevalence of 13.7 per cent, while only 29.1 percent of mothers practice exclusive breastfeeding.
The Mandate Secretary also disclosed that the Administration is promoting Baby-Friendly Hospital initiatives, building the capacity of healthcare workers and strengthening community support groups.
Faswe called on employers to provide conducive spaces for nursing mothers to breastfeed or express breast milk at workplaces, stressed the urgent need for stronger advocacy, public education and community support to improve child nutrition.
Earlier, Executive Secretary of the FCT Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Dan Gadzama, called on community leaders, religious leaders and health workers to champion exclusive breastfeeding across their communities.
Dr Gadzama emphasized that babies should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life without water, food or any other additives, noting that breastfeeding remains the most effective and cost-effective means of providing optimal nutrition for every child .
Dr. Gadzama warned that children who are not exclusively breastfed are more susceptible to infections and malnutrition. He urged residents to take preventive measures against cholera through safe water, sanitation and hygiene practices, while encouraging proper food storage, rodent control and prompt reporting of suspected Lassa fever cases.
Also speaking, Director of the Public Health Department, Dr. Teresa Nwachukwu, assured residents that there was no immediate threat of infectious disease outbreaks in the FCT.
She, however, reaffirmed the Administration’s commitment to strengthening disease surveillance and public health response mechanisms to keep the Territory safe from infectious diseases. ‘
One of the participants commended Dr. Fasawe for her commitment to improving healthcare delivery in the FCT and recalled that the 2025 National Council on Health, recognised FCT among Nigeria’s best-performing health jurisdictions.
He also praised the Mandate Secretary’s free medical outreach programmes, clean energy initiatives and sustained public health campaigns, describing them as evidence of the FCT Administration’s determination to improve the wellbeing of residents under the leadership of the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike.