North West Health Officials Launch Week of Activities for World Breastfeeding Week
By Wirngo Peter Tardzenyuy
The North West Regional Delegation of Public Health on Tuesday opened a week-long campaign to mark World Breastfeeding Week 2026, with officials urging mothers to start breastfeeding within the first hour of birth and to continue for up to two years.
The campaign is being run with support from the Ministry of Public Health and UNICEF. It kicked off with a press briefing at the Delegation’s conference hall in Bamenda, where health officials met media representatives to lay out the week’s program of radio programs, TV shows and community sensitization.
This year’s theme is “Breastfeeding: A Sustainable Life and Strengthening What Works.”
Asongwe Ignatius Forsuh, Focal Point for Nutrition at the Regional Delegation, told journalists that the focus is on getting families and communities to support mothers.
“The ministry of public health and the regional delegation of public health northwest joined the rest of the world in the celebration of the world breastfeeding week,” Mr. Asongwe said. “This time around with the theme breastfeeding sustainable life and strengthening what works.”
He stressed the health benefits for both mother and child.
“Let mothers try as much as possible to introduce their children to breast milk within the first hour of delivery and of course practice exclusive breastfeeding from birth up to six months,” he said. “Which actually covers the child against all illnesses and of course help the child to develop physically and cognitively.”
He added that early breastfeeding also helps strengthen the bond between mother and child and reduces the risk of breast cancer in women.
Health officials say breast milk provides all the nutrients a baby needs in the first six months and protects against illness. The key guidance for mothers this year: breastfeed within one hour of birth, give only breast milk for six months with no water or other food, and continue breastfeeding alongside complementary foods until two years or beyond. Any medication given to a child in that period, officials noted, must be prescribed by a doctor.
“Specific breastfeeding is giving the child only breast milk from birth to six months, no other food, no water,” Mr. Asongwe said.
Activities in the North West Region will run all week and will close on Saturday. The final day will begin at 7am with a walk from Up Station to Finance Junction. This will be followed by a round table talk at Nkwen Baptist Hospital, alongside a sensitization and awareness campaign.
Officials say the aim of the closing events is to take the message directly to the public and to push for supportive homes, health facilities and workplaces where every mother can breastfeed with confidence and dignity.
“Let us recognize breastfeeding as one of the best investments in the health and future of every child,” the Delegation stated. “Healthy babies begin with informed families and supportive communities."
Comments
Post a Comment