The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Bauchi state government have intensified efforts to combat child malnutrition with a planned N1 billion investment under the Child Nutrition Fund in 2026.
While urging mothers to embrace exclusive breastfeeding during a child’s first 1,000 days of life, government officials and UNICEF experts described exclusive breastfeeding as one of the most cost-effective interventions for preventing child malnutrition, reducing infant deaths and improving children’s cognitive development.
The commitment was reaffirmed during the flag-off of the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week in Bauchi, UNICEF’s Chief of Field Office in Bauchi, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, said the state had already allocated N500 million as counterpart funding to the Child Nutrition Fund in 2026, with UNICEF expected to provide a matching N500 million, bringing the total investment to N1 billion for nutrition interventions.
She commended Governor Bala Mohammed for supporting nutrition programmes and approving six months of paid maternity leave for mothers in the state.
He described the policy as a significant step towards improving exclusive breastfeeding rates.
He said while more than 90 per cent of mothers in Bauchi breastfeed their children, only about 26 per cent practice exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, while early initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of birth remains as low as 12 per cent.
She added that the first 1,000 days from pregnancy until a child reaches two years of age represent the most critical period for a child’s survival, growth and brain development.
“The first breast milk, known as colostrum, is like the baby’s first vaccination because it provides immunity against infections. Babies should receive breast milk within the first hour after birth without being given water, honey or any traditional mixture,” she said.
Rafique warned that introducing water or other substances before six months exposes infants to diarrhoea, respiratory infections and other illnesses that contribute significantly to malnutrition and child mortality.