The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has reaffirmed its commitment to improving nutrition outcomes for women and children through sustained investment and stronger support for breastfeeding across the territory.
According to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Mandate Secretary of the Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, made the commitment during a news conference marking the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week in Abuja.
Fasawe said nutrition challenges remain a concern in the FCT despite its urban advantages, citing the 2023 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, which recorded a stunting rate of 16 per cent, wasting at seven per cent, underweight prevalence of 13.7 per cent, and exclusive breastfeeding at 29.1 per cent.
She described breast milk as a child’s first vaccine, noting that exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months protects children against diarrhoea, pneumonia and malnutrition while supporting healthy brain development. She added that breastfeeding also reduces the risk of breast and ovarian cancer in mothers.
Fasawe disclosed that the FCTA, under the leadership of Minister Nyesom Wike, is strengthening Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative programmes, training healthcare workers, promoting breastfeeding friendly workplaces, engaging communities through primary healthcare centres, and enforcing regulations on the marketing of breast milk substitutes.
She urged fathers, employers and healthcare workers to provide greater support for nursing mothers to improve breastfeeding practices and child health outcomes.
Also speaking, Executive Secretary of the FCT Primary Health Care Board, Dr Dan Gadzama, described exclusive breastfeeding as one of the most effective and affordable ways to reduce child mortality and malnutrition.
The FCT State Coordinator of the World Health Organization, Dr Jibrin Al Kasim Musa, called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, development partners, communities and the media to promote public health awareness, while the Director of the FCT Public Health Department, Dr Teresa Nwachukwu, said efforts to prevent and control infectious diseases across the territory had been intensified.
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