UNICEF Applauds 10 States, Pushes 1-6-24 Breastfeeding Agenda

By Efa Sunday 


The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has praised ten Nigerian states for extending paid maternity leave to six months for women in public service, describing the move as a bold step toward improving exclusive breastfeeding and child survival outcomes.

Photo Credit :- Google Image


Delivering the welcome remark at a two-day virtual Multi-Zonal Media Dialogue to mark World Breastfeeding Week 2025, Mrs. Juliet Chiluwe, UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Enugu Zonal office, emphasized the need for stronger support systems to help mothers adopt the 1-6-24 optimal breastfeeding model.


Explaining the model, Chiluwe said, “this model calls for breastfeeding within the first hour of birth, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, and continued breastfeeding for up to 24 months with safe complementary foods."


Mrs. Chiluwe also commended the governments of Lagos, Kwara, Ekiti, Oyo, Cross River, Kaduna, Niger, Ondo, Enugu, and Plateau for showing leadership by extending maternity leave, noting that while more than 90 percent of Nigerian mothers breastfeed, exclusive breastfeeding rates remain low due to weak support structures.


“We need to correct harmful myths, empower health workers, and support mothers at home and in the workplace to meet the 1-6-24 target,” she added.


The media dialogue, themed “Prioritize Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems,” was organized by UNICEF in collaboration with the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State (BCA) and brought together journalists and media professionals from twelve states.

Photo Credit:- Google Image


In the opening remark, the Director General of BCA, Apostle Francis Nwaubani, welcomed participants to the dialogue and reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to partnering with UNICEF. He also commended the agency for its consistent support for women and children across Nigeria.


Meanwhile, Dr. Hilary Ozoh, a Social Behaviour Change Specialist with UNICEF, urged journalists to use their platforms to drive the 1-6-24 message with the same national focus given to sports and politics.


“Media houses should use their agenda setting power to make exclusive breastfeeding a national conversation. Keep pushing the 1-6-24 message across all available platforms until the society embraces it fully,” he said.


Dr. Ozoh, who spoke on “The Role of Media in Advocacy Messaging for Young Child Survival and Development-Tactics and Channels", encouraged the media to engage stakeholders and create content that supports mothers and promotes child nutrition.


Also speaking, Dr. Ijeoma Onuoha-Ogwe, Communication Officer at UNICEF Enugu Field Office, emphasized the importance of ethical and fact-based reporting in promoting child rights and health.


Her presentation, titled “Field Mission Interactive and Ethical Reporting for Children in Need,” stressed the need for media to uphold the dignity of children and support accurate public awareness around the breastfeeding campaign.


She said the dialogue aimed to strengthen media partnerships and ensure consistent messaging around this year’s World Breastfeeding Week theme.


UNICEF and its partners are calling on government, employers, and communities to invest in policies and systems, like paid maternity leave, workplace support, and public awareness, that make it easier for mothers to initiate and sustain breastfeeding in line with the 1-6-24 model.

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