Oyo Intensifies Campaign for Exclusive Breastfeeding as State Marks World Breastfeeding Week 2026
The Oyo State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to improving child nutrition and maternal health through the promotion of exclusive breastfeeding, as it joined the global community to commemorate the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week.
The event, organised by the Oyo State Primary Health Care Board under the leadership of its Executive Secretary, Dr. Muyideen Babatunde Olatunji, was held on Wednesday at the Adeoyo Maternity Teaching Hospital, Yemetu, Ibadan. The celebration focused on this year’s theme, “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works,” which underscores the importance of breastfeeding as a public health, economic and developmental priority.
Speaking at the event, the Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, described breastfeeding as one of the most effective and affordable interventions for ensuring the survival and healthy development of children.
She explained that exclusive breastfeeding provides complete nutrition for infants during their first six months of life, while protecting them against life threatening illnesses such as diarrhoea, pneumonia and malnutrition. According to her, breastfeeding also strengthens a child’s immune system and promotes healthy brain development.
The commissioner added that breastfeeding offers significant health benefits for mothers, including reducing the risk of postpartum haemorrhage, breast cancer, ovarian cancer and Type 2 diabetes, while also strengthening the emotional bond between mother and child.
“Breastfeeding is not only a personal choice but a public health, economic and developmental priority. Every child deserves the best possible start in life, and breastfeeding remains one of the most effective ways to achieve that,” Ajetunmobi said.
She called on employers across Oyo State to establish breastfeeding friendly workplaces that would enable nursing mothers to exclusively breastfeed their babies, while urging fathers to play more active roles in supporting breastfeeding mothers. She also appealed to traditional and religious leaders to continue promoting cultural values and community practices that encourage exclusive breastfeeding.
Ajetunmobi further acknowledged the contributions of development partners, including UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), for their sustained support towards improving child nutrition and maternal healthcare across Oyo State.
The state government reiterated its commitment to strengthening primary healthcare services and implementing policies that will ensure every child in Oyo State has a healthy and sustainable start to life through improved breastfeeding practices.