NAFDAC Advocates for Exclusive Breastfeeding

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has emphasised the crucial role of exclusive breastfeeding for newborns in Nigeria.

NAFDAC also urged mothers to adhere to this practice for at least the first six months of their infants’ lives.

The Agency highlighted that the global target set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for exclusive breastfeeding by 2025 is 50 percent, and expressed concern over Nigeria’s current low compliance rate, standing at 28.7 percent.

At a stakeholders’ engagement with the Association of Infant Food Manufacturers and Marketers in Nigeria (AIFMN), the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye represented by the Director of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (FSAN), Mrs. Eva Edwards, reiterated the commitment to implementing and monitoring adherence to the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes.

She underscored the importance of exclusive breastfeeding in promoting child survival and health, emphasising its provision of essential nutrition crucial for optimal growth and development.

NAFDAC harped on the need to curb inappropriate marketing practices of breast milk substitutes, which undermine efforts to improve breastfeeding rates.

Stakeholders were reminded of their responsibility to align practices with the provisions of the Code and national regulations. Prof Adeyeye further highlighted the Agency’s commitment to protecting and promoting breastfeeding and called for collaborative efforts to create an environment conducive to optimal infant feeding practices, ensuring the well-being of future generations.

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