By Daniel Tyokua
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has stepped up efforts to prevent infectious diseases and improve maternal and child health through renewed advocacy for exclusive breastfeeding and stronger public health awareness.
At the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week and Town Hall Meeting on Infectious Disease Prevention held in Abuja, the mandate secretary, FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, described the breastfeeding as one of the safest, affordable, and effective life-saving interventions for mothers and children.
The event which brought together the World Health Organization (WHO), development partners, donor agencies, religious and community leaders, healthcare professionals, and other stakeholders is to sustaiian the push.
Fasawe explained that the annual global campaign, observed from August 1 to 7, provides an opportunity to strengthen proven strategies that improve maternal and child health.
She said, this year’s theme, “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthening What Works,” underscores the need to reinforce evidence-based interventions that promote healthy growth and save lives.
Fasawe noted that exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months provides infants with all the nutrients they need while protecting them against diarrhoea, pneumonia and other childhood illnesses. She added that it boosts immunity, enhances cognitive development and improves educational outcomes later in life.
She also highlighted the health benefits for mothers, including reduced risks of breast and ovarian cancers, as well as certain forms of diabetes.
Beyond health gains, she said breastfeeding lowers healthcare costs, eliminates the need for infant formula and feeding equipment, promotes healthy birth spacing and reduces environmental waste associated with artificial feeding.
Despite these benefits, Fasawe expressed concern over the low rate of exclusive breastfeeding in the FCT. Citing the 2023 National Demographic and Health Survey, she said the Territory has a stunting rate of 16 per cent, an underweight prevalence of 13.7 per cent, while only 29.1 per cent of mothers practice exclusive breastfeeding.
She disclosed that the FCT Administration is expanding Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiatives, strengthening the capacity of health workers and supporting community-based programmes to improve breastfeeding rates.
Fasawe also urged employers to establish breastfeeding-friendly workplaces where nursing mothers can safely breastfeed or express and store breast milk.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the FCT Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Daniel Gadzama, urged community and religious leaders, as well as healthcare workers, to champion exclusive breastfeeding.
He stressed that babies should receive only breast milk for their first six months, warning that children who are not exclusively breastfed are more vulnerable to infections and malnutrition.
Gadzama also advised residents to prevent cholera through proper hygiene, safe water and improved sanitation, while encouraging proper food storage, rodent control and prompt reporting of suspected Lassa fever cases.
On his part, the Director of Public Health, Dr. Teresa Nwachukwu, assured residents that there was no immediate threat of an infectious disease outbreak in the FCT.
She, however, reaffirmed the Administration’s commitment to strengthening disease surveillance and emergency response systems, urging residents to maintain good environmental sanitation, promptly report unusual illnesses and ensure children and pregnant women receive recommended vaccinations and essential healthcare services.
Nwachukwu said the FCTA would continue to build a resilient health system through enhanced surveillance, routine immunisation, risk communication, community engagement and capacity building for health workers.
The FCT State Coordinator of the World Health Organization, Jibrin Musa, said disease surveillance across the Territory was progressing well, particularly Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) surveillance, a key component of Nigeria’s polio eradication programme.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Ghali Kassim, commended Fasawe for her commitment to improving healthcare delivery.
He recalled that at the 2025 National Council on Health, the FCT was recognised as one of Nigeria’s best-performing health jurisdictions and praised the Administration’s free medical outreaches, clean energy initiatives and sustained public health campaigns as evidence of its commitment to improving residents’ wellbeing under the leadership of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
