Lagos records 57.4% exclusive breastfeeding rate, above global benchmark

The Lagos State Government says it has surpassed the global benchmark for exclusive breastfeeding, with the state’s rate rising to 57.4 percent — above the World Health Organization’s standard of 50 percent.

Kemi Ogunyemi, special adviser to the governor on health, announced the milestone on Tuesday during a press briefing to commemorate the 2025 World Breastfeeding Week, which runs from August 1 to 7 in more than 120 countries.

Despite the achievement, Ogunyemi expressed concern over the low rate of early initiation of breastfeeding in the state, which currently stands at 14 percent.

She warned that the delay in initiating breastfeeding within the first hour after birth poses significant risks to newborns.

“When babies miss out on colostrum, which is rich in antibodies, their immunity is compromised from the start,” she said.

Ogunyemi attributed the low rate to misinformation, the use of pre-lacteal feeds like glucose water and infant formula, and lapses in health service delivery.

She noted that the state has intensified training for midwives and birth attendants to ensure proper initiation practices.

This year’s World Breastfeeding Week, themed “Prioritise Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems”, underscores the need for long-term structures that support nursing mothers.

Ogunyemi described breastfeeding as one of the most cost-effective strategies for child survival, especially in the first six months of life, while continued breastfeeding up to age two improves a child’s cognitive, physical, and emotional development.

“This is not just a maternal health issue; it is a public health, economic and developmental concern,” she added, calling for increased investment in maternal infant and young child nutrition.

Lagos, she said, has institutionalised a six-month maternity leave and a two-week paternity leave for the first two births across all public institutions — a policy she urged private employers to adopt.

“This forward-thinking policy enables families to prioritise breastfeeding in those crucial first six months,” she said.

Also speaking, Folashade Oludara, director of Family Health and Nutrition at the State Ministry of Health, described breastfeeding as the most affordable and effective form of infant nutrition, especially in the face of economic hardship.

Oludara called for intensified public education to dispel misconceptions and promote the benefits of breastfeeding, including its protective effect against breast cancer.