By Tracy Moses
The Wife of the Anambra State Governor, Dr. Nonye Soludo, has urged expectant and nursing mothers to embrace exclusive breastfeeding, describing it as one of the most effective ways to give children a healthy start in life, improve their survival and promote optimal physical and cognitive development.
Mrs. Soludo, founder of the Healthy Living Initiative, made the appeal on Monday in a message commemorating the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week (WBW), calling on mothers to adhere to medical recommendations that infants be exclusively breastfed during their first six months of life.
Observed annually from August 1 to 7, World Breastfeeding Week is a global campaign dedicated to promoting breastfeeding as a vital public health intervention. This year’s theme, “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works,” underscores the importance of protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding as the foundation for healthier families and more resilient communities.
According to the Anambra First Lady, every child deserves the healthiest possible start in life, and exclusive breastfeeding remains one of the most effective and affordable interventions for achieving that goal.
«”Breastfeeding remains one of the most effective ways of promoting healthy growth, boosting immunity and strengthening the bond between mother and child.»
«”Breast milk is a priceless gift that contributes significantly to children’s survival and wellbeing, and I commend mothers for their sacrifices in nurturing and protecting their babies,” she said.»
Mrs. Soludo encouraged mothers to follow the advice of health professionals by exclusively breastfeeding infants for the first six months, without introducing water, herbal mixtures or any other food.
She noted that breast milk contains all the nutrients babies require during the first six months of life while also providing antibodies that protect them against infections, reduce the risk of childhood illnesses and improve their chances of healthy growth and survival.
The governor’s wife stressed that improving infant nutrition through exclusive breastfeeding is critical to reducing preventable child deaths and achieving better maternal and child health outcomes.
She reaffirmed the Anambra State Government’s commitment to strengthening maternal and child healthcare through the Healthy Living Initiative and other public health programmes aimed at improving the wellbeing of mothers, children and families.
According to her, the state will continue to invest in public awareness campaigns, health education and support systems that empower mothers to breastfeed with confidence and provide every child with the opportunity to thrive from birth.
Mrs. Soludo also called on families, healthcare workers, employers and community leaders to create an enabling environment for breastfeeding, stressing that supporting nursing mothers is a shared responsibility with far-reaching benefits for society.
Health authorities, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, followed by continued breastfeeding alongside appropriate complementary feeding up to two years of age or beyond. Research has consistently shown that optimal breastfeeding reduces infant mortality, strengthens immunity, enhances cognitive development and improves long-term health outcomes for both mothers and children.