It is a milestone that speaks to the dedication of the Government, the National Nutrition Agency, the Ministry of Health, healthcare workers, development partners, and communities across the country.
But celebration must not become complacency. As UNICEF Representative Nafisa Binte Shafique rightly pointed out, only 36% of newborns are breastfed within the first hour of birth. That gap matters. The first hour is critical for a child’s survival, immunity, and long-term health. Every baby who misses that start is a missed opportunity.
The theme for 2026, “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works,” is a direct call to action. Breastfeeding does not happen in isolation. It succeeds when families support mothers, when health facilities practice what they preach, when workplaces give women time and space to nurse, and when laws protect both mothers and children.
On policy, The Gambia is ahead of many peers. The Women’s Act 2010 and Labour Act 2023 guarantee six months of paid maternity leave, daily nursing breaks, and 10 days of paid paternity leave. The Breastfeeding Promotion Regulations 2006 shield families from aggressive marketing of breast milk substitutes. These are strong foundations.
What we need now is enforcement and expansion.
First, health systems must deliver at the point of birth. The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative and Baby-Friendly Community Initiative must be scaled up in every region, not just in urban centers. Health workers need continuous training in counseling so that every mother gets accurate, timely, and compassionate support immediately after delivery.
Second, workplaces must walk the talk. Laws are good, but many women in the informal sector still have no nursing breaks, no childcare, and no job security. Government, private sector, and civil society must make breastfeeding-friendly workplaces the norm, not the exception.
Third, communities and men must be brought fully on board. Paternity leave exists for a reason. Fathers, grandmothers, and community leaders must understand that supporting breastfeeding is supporting national development. A well-nourished child is less likely to fall sick, more likely to do well in school, and more likely to contribute productively as an adult. That is food security, poverty reduction, and economic growth rolled into one.
NaNA’s Director General Alhagie Malang N. Fofana and Dr. Rohey Njie of the Ministry of Health have committed to strengthening these systems.
UNICEF has also pledged continued support. That partnership must now translate into measurable results: more facilities certified baby-friendly, more workers trained, and more mothers supported in the first 24 hours after birth.
The 54% figure proves that change is possible. But the true measure of success will be when every newborn in The Gambia, from Banjul to Koina, gets breast milk within the first hour, and when every mother can breastfeed for six months exclusively without fear of losing her livelihood.
Let this World Breastfeeding Week be more than speeches. Let it be the week we commit to closing the 36% gap, strengthening what works, and giving every Gambian child the sustainable start they deserve.
Let’s remember that the health of a nation begins at the breast. Let’s protect it.