Dr. Elizabeth Alonge Advocates for Investment in Breastfeeding, Activation of National Policy on Infant, Young Child Feeding 

World Breastfeeding Week 2025 may have ended, but the conversations it sparked about infant nutrition, maternal health, and supportive environments for mothers remain urgent. In Nigeria, where exclusive breastfeeding rates are still low, Dr. Elizabeth Lola Alonge, Founder of the Child Health Advocacy Initiative (CHAI), has urged government, civil society, and communities to act decisively in breaking barriers that prevent women from breastfeeding their babies, just as she also harped on the need to activate the National Policy on Infant and Young Child Feeding, Chiemelie Ezeobi reports 

Although World Breastfeeding Week 2025 has come and gone, the campaign continues to raise awareness about the benefits of breastfeeding for babies and mothers while promoting supportive environments for breastfeeding families.

Speaking on this, the Founder of Child Health Advocacy Initiative (CHAI), Dr. Mrs. Elizabeth Lola Alonge, said the low rates of breastfeeding in Nigeria remain a major concern.

Why Breastfeeding is Important 

With more than 80 per cent of nursing mothers in Nigeria not practising exclusive breastfeeding and another 20 per cent not breastfeeding at all despite the reported health and social benefits, she noted that many mothers lack proper breastfeeding education and are exposed to misinformation from aggressive formula marketing. 

“Cultural beliefs, myths, and family pressures often discourage exclusive breastfeeding. Additionally, many mothers resume work early after childbirth without adequate support for breastfeeding at workplaces or public spaces. Healthcare workers also lack adequate training to support breastfeeding mothers. All these create barriers to what should be a natural, supported practice.”

On why mothers should care about breastfeeding, Alonge explained: “Breastfeeding is nature’s first immunisation. Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months provides all the nutrients a baby needs, boosts the immune system, reduces risk of infections, and promotes healthy growth. For mothers, it lowers the risk of breast and ovarian cancers, aids postpartum recovery, and strengthens the mother-to-child bond. Beyond individual health, breastfeeding also promotes family well-being by reducing healthcare costs and ensures children grow into healthier adults who contribute more meaningfully to society.”

She noted that women and babies require strong institutional support to make breastfeeding successful.“Women need skilled counselling from pregnancy through postpartum, baby-friendly hospital policies that support immediate skin-to-skin contact, early initiation of breastfeeding, and rooming-in. Continuous follow-up care, access to lactation consultants, and practical help addressing breastfeeding challenges like latching or low milk supply are vital. Health facilities should provide breastfeeding education, not just for mothers but also for family members, as support from the home is equally critical.”

Role of Civil Societies 

Highlighting the role of civil societies, she added: “Civil society organisations can play a transformative role by raising awareness, providing community-based education, supporting peer counsellor programmes, and advocating for better breastfeeding policies at national and local levels. At CHAI, we visit health facilities regularly to counsel mothers on exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding. 

“We also have an online platform called CHAI NUTRIMUMS where we counsel mothers regularly. We tackle misinformation and resist unethical formula marketing through sensitisation campaigns. To promote breastfeeding in public, CHAI developed an innovation called ‘Mamajoy breastfeeding suite’—a mobile private room that can be placed in shopping malls, airports, offices, churches and other public spaces.”

On the group’s plans during the recently concluded World Breastfeeding Week, their activities included community sensitisation events in various LGAs, a breastfeeding walk to raise awareness, visits to hospitals to celebrate with new mothers, healthcare worker training, media advocacy, and collaboration with faith-based and women’s groups to spread the breastfeeding message. This was just aa they launched a digital breastfeeding support platform to connect mothers with lactation consultants and peer support groups.

Enforcement of Policies 

Alonge stressed that enforcement of existing policies is critical: “The National Policy on Infant and Young Child Feeding needs to be actively implemented and monitored. Government must invest in training health workers on breastfeeding counselling and enforce the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes by regulating formula advertising and ensuring accountability for violations. Workplaces in both public and private sectors must be mandated to provide paid maternity leave, breastfeeding breaks, and lactation spaces. Legislation without enforcement is meaningless. We need civil society and the media to hold authorities and companies accountable.”

Smart Economics of Breastfeeding

She also described breastfeeding as “smart economics.”“Breastfeeding is a low-cost, high-impact intervention. It reduces household spending on infant formula, cuts healthcare costs by preventing childhood illnesses, and contributes to cognitive development, which leads to higher educational achievement and productivity in adulthood. WHO estimates that increasing breastfeeding rates could save countries billions annually in health expenses and lost productivity. Breastfeeding supports economic growth, reduces poverty, and fosters a healthier, more capable future workforce.”

Import of Maternity Leave 

On the need for maternity leave, she stated: “Absolutely. Paid maternity leave allows mothers time to recover from childbirth and establish exclusive breastfeeding without the pressure of returning to work too soon. The International Labour Organization (ILO) recommends at least 14 weeks of paid leave, but for exclusive breastfeeding to succeed, six months would be ideal. Nigeria’s current leave policies fall short, especially in the private and informal sectors, where most women work. Expanding paid leave is essential for maternal and child health.”

Explaining why many women are unable to breastfeed for as long as they wish, Alonge said: “Many women face social, economic, and practical challenges such as early return to work, lack of family support, physical difficulties like pain or poor latching, and lack of access to lactation consultants. Some are influenced by marketing of formula milk or discouraged by myths and misinformation. Without supportive policies, skilled guidance, and enabling environments, even motivated mothers may find it hard to continue breastfeeding.”

Steps to Successful Breastfeeding

She emphasised the steps that ensure successful breastfeeding. “The Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, developed by WHO and UNICEF, are key. These include early initiation within the first hour of birth, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, skin-to-skin contact and rooming-in, on-demand feeding, no use of bottles or formula unless medically necessary, continued breastfeeding for up to two years alongside complementary foods, regular support and follow-up from health professionals, community and peer support, educating family members and employers, and empowering mothers with accurate, culturally appropriate information.”

Breastfeeding as Public Health Imperative 

Addressing the campaign against formula milk promotion, she remarked: “Formula milk can be life-saving when breastfeeding is not possible, but it is not equivalent to breastmilk. The pushback is against unethical marketing that undermines breastfeeding by promoting formula as superior or necessary. This misleads mothers and erodes breastfeeding culture. The International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes exists to protect mothers from commercial exploitation and ensure breastfeeding remains the norm, not the exception. 

“Breastfeeding is a public health imperative, not just a personal choice. NAFDAC is actively implementing the International Code in Nigeria. The agency just inaugurated BMS State Multi-Sectoral Technical Committees in 32 states to enforce the code and national regulations at the state level. We look forward to seeing the state committees perform to expectations.”

Dr. Alonge concluded with a strong message: “The call to action is clear: Invest in breastfeeding, invest in the future. Let us create a Nigeria where every child receives the best start in life, and every mother is supported to nourish her baby naturally, confidently, and with dignity.”