By Zakari Haruna Isah
Kaduna, Nigeria — The Interfaith Mediation Centre (IMC) has called on families, faith leaders, traditional institutions, health workers, government agencies and development partners to strengthen support for exclusive breastfeeding as part of efforts to improve maternal and child health.
The appeal was made in a statement issued to commemorate World Breastfeeding Week 2026 by the organisation's Women Department under its Faith and Cultural Champions (FCC) Project.
The Centre described breastfeeding as one of the most effective, affordable and accessible interventions for improving maternal, newborn and child health, noting that exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life provides infants with essential nutrients and antibodies needed for healthy growth while protecting them from infections and malnutrition.
According to the statement, breastfeeding also contributes to reducing infant and child mortality and supports mothers' recovery after childbirth while lowering the risk of certain health conditions.
Co-Executive Director of the Interfaith Mediation Centre, Hayatu Ashafa, said improving maternal and child health requires collective responsibility beyond the health sector.
He stressed that breastfeeding is not only a health issue but also a family and community responsibility, urging husbands, religious leaders, traditional institutions, health workers and community members to create an enabling environment where mothers receive the encouragement and support needed to exclusively breastfeed their babies.
Ashafa noted that through the Faith and Cultural Champions Project, IMC continues to promote positive social norms that encourage antenatal care, skilled facility delivery, childbirth spacing and effective spousal communication as pathways to healthier families.
The organisation explained that under the FCC Project, implemented in selected communities across Kaduna State, religious and traditional leaders have been engaged to integrate maternal and child health messages into sermons, community dialogues, women's meetings and youth engagements.
It added that trained community champions are also conducting grassroots sensitisation campaigns to increase awareness and encourage healthy family practices aimed at improving maternal and child health outcomes.
The Women Department of IMC observed that exclusive breastfeeding is closely linked with other key interventions promoted under the project, including regular antenatal care, birth preparedness, skilled facility delivery, childbirth spacing and improved communication between spouses.
As part of activities marking this year's World Breastfeeding Week, the organisation urged mothers to exclusively breastfeed their babies for the first six months before introducing appropriate complementary feeding while continuing breastfeeding in line with medical recommendations.
It also appealed to husbands and family members to provide emotional, financial and practical support to breastfeeding mothers, while encouraging religious and traditional leaders to continue using their platforms to promote positive maternal and child health practices and address harmful beliefs and misconceptions.
The Centre further called on health workers to provide quality, respectful and mother-friendly services, while urging government institutions and development partners to strengthen investments in policies, programmes and community-based initiatives that promote breastfeeding and maternal healthcare.
IMC reaffirmed its commitment to working with communities, faith institutions, traditional leaders, government agencies, media organisations and development partners to improve maternal and child health outcomes across Kaduna State through inclusive, faith-sensitive and community-driven interventions.
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