World Breastfeeding Week: NAWOJ Lagos Launches Month-Long Campaign on Maternal Nutrition, Breastfeeding
By Primetime Reports
The Lagos State Chapter of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) has declared August as NAWOJ Lagos Maternal Nutrition and Breastfeeding Awareness Month as part of activities marking this year’s World Breastfeeding Week.
The association said the initiative is aimed at promoting awareness of the critical link between maternal nutrition, family support, and successful breastfeeding, stressing that a healthy mother is essential to raising a healthy child.
In a statement jointly signed by the Chairperson, Jumoke Falayi Johnson, and the Secretary, Anu Thomas, NAWOJ Lagos aligned with the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week theme, “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works,” noting that exclusive breastfeeding can only be sustained when mothers have access to nutritious meals, adequate rest, emotional support, and quality healthcare.
The association observed that many nursing mothers in Lagos juggle childcare with demanding household and economic responsibilities, making it imperative for families and communities to provide practical support. It therefore called for increased public education on affordable, locally available foods that enhance lactation, as well as greater involvement of spouses, relatives, and caregivers in easing the burden on breastfeeding mothers.
According to the statement, the month-long campaign will feature news reports, expert interviews, public enlightenment programmes, and educational content across print, broadcast, and digital media platforms to deepen public understanding of maternal nutrition and early childhood health.
Speaking on the importance of supporting nursing mothers, NAWOJ Lagos Chairperson, Jumoke Falayi Johnson, said mothers cannot adequately care for their babies if their own nutritional and emotional needs are neglected.
“A mother cannot sustain her child’s health if her own body lacks basic nutrients and rest. Real support requires families and neighbourhood health centres to pay close attention to the mother’s nutrition, mental well-being, and physical strength. Breastfeeding should be a shared responsibility within the family, not a burden carried by the mother alone,” she said.
NAWOJ Lagos said its August campaign would focus on practical measures that improve maternal nutrition and overall well-being, enabling mothers to give their children the healthiest possible start in life.
The association also called on primary healthcare providers, community leaders, non-governmental organisations, policymakers, and families across Lagos State to prioritise maternal nutrition and create supportive environments that promote the long-term health and well-being of mothers and their children.
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