For generations, breastfeeding has been regarded primarily as the natural way to feed a newborn. But breast milk represents much more than nourishment; it is the foundation for healthier children, stronger families, improved national productivity and sustainable development.
The President of the Paediatric Association of Nigeria (PAN), Prof. Petronila Tabansi, said breastfeeding is far more than child nutrition but the first investment in building the country’s future.
She said the conversation must move beyond viewing breastfeeding simply as a maternal responsibility. Instead, she believes it should be recognised as one of the country’s most valuable investments in human capital.
According to her, this year’s World Breastfeeding Week theme, ‘Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works,’ speaks directly to that reality.
‘It is true that investing in breastfeeding by doing whatever it takes to make sure it is happening can yield enormous returns in human capital development,’ she said.
The paediatrician noted that the cost of not breastfeeding is enormous, with far-reaching health, economic and environmental consequences.
Although many people associate breastfeeding with simply satisfying a baby’s hunger, Prof. Tabansi argued that breast milk offers far more than nutrition.
She explained that exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life, followed by continued breastfeeding for up to two years or beyond, strengthens immunity, supports brain development and protects children against common childhood illnesses.
According to her, the benefits of breastfeeding extend well beyond infancy. Children who are breastfed are less likely to develop obesity and other lifestyle-related diseases such as hypertension and diabetes later in life. They are also less prone to allergies and recurrent infections.
‘Breast milk is best. The components of breast milk cannot be overemphasised. It improves cognition, and once cognition is improved, you are going to have good quality human beings. People become productive members of society,’ she explained.
For Prof. Tabansi, better nutrition during infancy ultimately translates into stronger economic development. Healthier children require fewer hospital visits, perform better academically and grow into adults who contribute more effectively to the nation’s workforce.
Rather than introducing entirely new programmes, Prof. Tabansi believes Nigeria should focus on strengthening interventions that have already proven successful, particularly breastfeeding counselling during antenatal care.
She explained that pregnancy provides healthcare workers with an important opportunity to prepare expectant mothers for exclusive breastfeeding before delivery.
Doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals remain trusted sources of health information, making antenatal clinics ideal settings for educating women on the benefits of breastfeeding.
According to her, consistent counselling has significantly improved the uptake of exclusive breastfeeding among mothers.
She also identified the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) as another indispensable intervention. The initiative encourages hospitals to ensure babies are breastfed shortly after birth, remain with their mothers, feed on demand and are protected from unnecessary exposure to breast milk substitutes.
For years, these practices were standard in many Nigerian hospitals. Medical students were taught the ten successful steps to breastfeeding, while hospitals actively promoted exclusive breastfeeding from the delivery room.
Today, however, Prof. Tabansi said the programme has gradually lost momentum.
‘It is not that we have stopped. But awareness has not been sustained. New workers are coming into the system, and many may not have the same level of awareness,’ she said.
She urged hospitals to renew their commitment to breastfeeding promotion through continuous staff education, regular orientation and stronger institutional support.
One of the greatest challenges facing many mothers today, she observed, is balancing work with breastfeeding because returning to work shortly after childbirth often disrupts exclusive breastfeeding, particularly where employers provide little or no support.
Prof. Tabansi stressed that effective maternity protection remains essential and therefore advocated six months of paid maternity leave, breastfeeding breaks and dedicated breastfeeding rooms in workplaces to enable mothers to continue breastfeeding after resuming work.
She added that such policies should not be limited to public institutions but extended to private organisations, where many Nigerian women are employed.
‘If mothers are given paid maternity leave, they can focus on giving their babies the best nutrition without worrying about their jobs,’ she said.
She further insisted that successful breastfeeding is not solely the responsibility of mothers, noting that family support-especially from fathers-often determines whether exclusive breastfeeding succeeds.
Prof. Tabansi explained that counselling should involve both parents so families understand not only the health benefits of breastfeeding but also its economic advantages.
With infant formula becoming increasingly expensive, she said breastfeeding remains the most affordable option for many households.
‘All they have to do is ensure the breastfeeding mother has good nutrition. The rest is free,’ she added.
Another challenge frequently encountered by healthcare workers is the belief among new mothers that they are not producing enough milk immediately after childbirth. This anxiety often leads to the premature introduction of water, glucose or infant formula.
However, she said such fears are misplaced because the first breast milk is naturally thick and highly concentrated with nutrients specifically designed for newborns.
Rather than introducing other feeds, mothers should be reassured and supported until breastfeeding becomes fully established.
Prof. Tabansi also drew attention to the growing influence of social media on infant feeding decisions.
While breast milk substitutes are increasingly promoted online, she urged healthcare professionals to become more active in providing evidence-based information through digital platforms.
‘The younger generation gets much of its information online. We need to be there with the right information,’ she said.
For Prof. Tabansi, protecting breastfeeding requires consistency, advocacy and leadership from healthcare professionals. She emphasised that breastfeeding is not merely a personal decision made by mothers but a national investment.
Every exclusively breastfed child, she argued, represents healthier families, lower healthcare costs and greater economic productivity.
Everything required to improve breastfeeding already exists: policies, programmes, evidence and professional expertise. The challenge, she said, is sustaining and effectively implementing them.
‘If we strengthen what already works, we will produce healthier, more intelligent and more productive children who will contribute positively to their families and to the nation,’ she said.