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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Health & Science

Support breastfeeding mothers, UNICEF urges men in Borno

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • UNICEF urged fathers and stakeholders in Borno State to support breastfeeding mothers for optimal infant nutrition and development.
  • The call emphasizes breastfeeding as a crucial investment in children's health, development, and future economic productivity.
  • UNICEF highlighted that successful breastfeeding requires a supportive system involving families, communities, employers, and policymakers.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is calling on fathers and other key stakeholders in Borno State to actively support breastfeeding mothers. This initiative aims to ensure infants receive essential nutrients, protect them from illnesses, and foster healthy cognitive development.

Breastfeeding remains one of the most effective and affordable investments a society can make in the health, survival and development of children. It provides infants with the nutrients they need, protects them against illness, supports cognitive development and contributes to healthier futures.

— Joseph SenesieUNICEF Nutrition Manager in Borno State, speaking at the World Breastfeeding Week 2026 commemoration.

Joseph Senesie, UNICEF's Nutrition Manager in Borno State, spoke at an event commemorating World Breastfeeding Week 2026 in Maiduguri. He highlighted the theme, “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works,” emphasizing that breastfeeding is a highly effective and affordable societal investment in children's health, survival, and development. Senesie described it as more than just a health issue, but also a critical factor in development and economic progress.

Investing in breastfeeding today means investing in human capital tomorrow.

— Joseph SenesieHighlighting the long-term benefits of breastfeeding.

"Investing in breastfeeding today means investing in human capital tomorrow," Senesie stated. He stressed that successful breastfeeding is not solely the mother's responsibility but requires a comprehensive support system. This includes fathers, grandparents, community leaders, employers, and policymakers. UNICEF believes that supporting breastfeeding mothers benefits mothers, families, communities, and national economies by reducing healthcare costs and boosting productivity.

Successful breastfeeding is therefore not the responsibility of mothers alone. It requires a supportive system that includes fathers, grandparents, community leaders, employers, policymakers and development partners.

— Joseph SenesieEmphasizing the need for a collective support system for breastfeeding mothers.

Senesie also commended the Borno State Government, health workers, community volunteers, and partners for their ongoing efforts in championing maternal, newborn, and child health services. He acknowledged the mothers themselves as "true breastfeeding champions" for their commitment and resilience in nurturing the next generation. The event underscored the importance of strengthening existing support structures to ensure a sustainable start in life for all children.

As UNICEF, we believe that breastfeeding is not only a health issue; it is also a development issue and an economic issue.

— Joseph SenesieExplaining the broader implications of breastfeeding.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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