The Plateau State Government has launched the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week in Jos, calling on families, employers, religious leaders, health workers, and development partners to build an environment where breastfeeding is protected and supported at every level of society.
The official launch took place at the Ministry of Health Conference Hall, J.D. Gomwalk Secretariat, with the State Commissioner for Health, Nicholas Ba’amlong, leading the charge. He described breastfeeding as one of the most affordable and effective public health tools available for cutting child mortality and improving nutrition outcomes across the state.
This year’s theme, “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works,” shaped much of the conversation at the event. Ba’amlong stressed that exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, followed by continued breastfeeding alongside complementary feeding up to two years and beyond, shields children from malnutrition and common childhood illnesses while delivering lasting health benefits for mothers.
“Every child deserves the best start in life, and every mother deserves the support needed to successfully breastfeed,” he said.
“By strengthening interventions that have proven effective, we can improve nutrition outcomes and build a healthier future for Plateau State.”
The Director of Nutrition at the Plateau State Primary Health Care Board, Tongmor Dabis, added an important detail on what is at stake. Breastfed infants are less vulnerable to pneumonia, diarrhoea, malnutrition, and obesity because breast milk contains protective antibodies that actively strengthen a child’s immune system.
Mothers also benefit significantly. Breastfeeding supports faster recovery after childbirth, reduces postpartum bleeding, lowers the risk of breast and ovarian cancers, and decreases the likelihood of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Dabis also made the economic case plainly. Exclusive breastfeeding reduces what families spend on infant formula and on treating preventable childhood illnesses, making it not just a health decision but a financial one.
Activities planned for the week include advocacy visits, community outreaches, health education sessions, media engagements, and breastfeeding promotion campaigns across all 17 local government areas in Plateau State.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Bitrus Hosea, closed proceedings by acknowledging development partners, including UNICEF and the World Health Organisation, as well as media organisations, for their continued role in promoting accurate health information across the state.
Plateau State is not just marking a calendar event. It is making a case for every child who deserves better.
