Poor breastfeeding raises risk of cancer, diabetes, infant death — UNICEF

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has warned that poor breastfeeding exposes children to diarrhoea, pneumonia, diabetes, leukaemia, and sudden infant death, while mothers face an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancers.

The Chief of the UNICEF Maiduguri Field Office, Mr Francis Butichi, gave the warning on Saturday during the launch of the 2025 World Breastfeeding Week in Maiduguri.

He lamented that despite a high breastfeeding rate among Nigerian mothers, only 35.5% of newborns are breastfed within one hour of birth, and just 28.8% are exclusively breastfed for the first six months, far below global targets.

According to him, the prolonged insurgency in Borno State has made breastfeeding support more urgent, especially in conflict-affected and displaced communities, where breastmilk substitutes and unsafe water pose serious health threats to infants.

He called for increased support for mothers through counselling, peer education, and consistent healthcare advice throughout pregnancy, delivery, and postnatal care.

Citing this year’s theme, “Prioritise Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems,” he urged the government and stakeholders to scale up breastfeeding initiatives, especially in rural and vulnerable areas.

Butichi described breastfeeding as a ‘climate-smart’ solution, noting that it is sustainable, environmentally friendly, and life-saving, particularly in emergency situations.

He commended mothers in Borno for their commitment and urged the state government to implement policies such as six months of paid maternity leave and stronger enforcement of national regulations on breastmilk substitutes.

“There’s no better evidence of exclusive and sustained breastfeeding than strong, healthy children,” he said, reaffirming UNICEF’s commitment to supporting breastfeeding and improving child survival in Borno State.

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