From Rosemary Ameh, Sokoto
Sokoto State-based representative health expert, Dr Bala Gadanga, has highlighted the importance of a golden hour for mother and child after delivery.
He defined golden hour as the first hour immediately after delivery, saying it allows for bonding between mother and the new-born baby.
He stated these at the commemoration of this year’s World Breastfeeding Day, when the state chapter of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOAJ) embarked on an advocacy outreach to Yar Akija Primary Healthcare Centre.
According to Dr Gadanga, the first hour after childbirth, when initiating breastfeeding, significantly boosts the baby’s immunity and encourages maternal bonding.
“Breast milk contains all the nutrients a baby needs in the first six months of life. It is easily digestible and perfectly balanced. Exclusive breastfeeding also reduces the risk of respiratory infections, diarrhoea, and malnutrition,” he said.
Speaking during the event, the State NAWOAJ Chairperson, Aishatu Muhammad, said that breastfeeding is not just a feeding practice but a powerful act of love and bonding.
She described breast milk as the baby’s “first vaccine,” stressing that it is rich in antibodies and essential nutrients needed for healthy growth and protection against common childhood illnesses.
“Breastfeeding strengthens the emotional bond between mother and child. It is nature’s way of giving every newborn a healthy start in life. We are here to encourage our women to adopt exclusive breastfeeding for, at least, the first six months,” Muhammad urged.
In her remarks, NAWOAJ Vice Chairperson, Zone A, Rabi Muhammad, highlighted the importance of hygiene during breastfeeding, cautioning mothers against poor hygiene practices that could expose infants to infections.
She said cleanliness while breastfeeding is essential and urged mothers to ensure that their hands and nipples are clean before feeding their babies.
“This small but critical step goes a long way in protecting infants from preventable diseases,” she counseled.
The event, which drew dozens of nursing mothers and health workers, also featured a demonstration session on proper breastfeeding techniques, hygiene tips, and one-on-one counseling.
World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every August 1–7 to raise awareness and galvanize action to support breastfeeding and improve infant health globally.
This year’s World Breastfeeding Day is being celebrated under the theme ‘Prioritize Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems’.
It urges governments, health institutions, communities, and families to invest in long-term structures that support breastfeeding mothers.
The theme emphasizes the urgent need for consistent, practical, and culturally appropriate systems such as trained health workers, maternity protections, supportive workplaces, and community networks that will empower women to initiate and sustain breastfeeding.
Advocates say that prioritizing breastfeeding through these sustainable systems is key to improving child survival, reducing malnutrition, and promoting lifelong health for both mothers and babies.
