By Sirrah Touray
The National Nutrition Agency (NaNA), the Ministry of Health and UNICEF launched World Breastfeeding Week 2026 in The Gambia today, urging government, communities and employers to scale up proven interventions that improve breastfeeding practices.
The opening press briefing, chaired by Ministry of Health officials, featured Malang N Fofana, Director General of NaNA; Ajie Rohey Njie, Deputy Director of Health Promotion and Education; and Nafisa Binte Shafique, Unicef Representative in The Gambia. Representatives from the Association of Health Journalists, WHO and partner organisations attended. The global theme this year is “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works.”
Ajie Rohey Njie said breastfeeding remains one of the most cost‑effective public health measures. “Breastfeeding gives infants complete nutrition for the first six months, protects against infection, strengthens immunity, promotes brain development and reduces malnutrition and childhood illnesses,” she said. She added that breastfeeding also lowers mothers’ risk of certain cancers, supports birth spacing and improves maternal well‑being, while cutting healthcare costs and advancing national development.
Speaking as a breastfeeding mother, Ms Njie reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to protect, promote and support infant and young child feeding. She listed current priorities: strengthen the Baby‑Friendly Hospital Initiative, train health workers in breastfeeding counselling, promote exclusive breastfeeding for six months and continued breastfeeding to two years and beyond, and expand community interventions including support groups and the positive deviance approach.
Ms Njie called for stronger enforcement of the International Code of Marketing of Breast‑Milk Substitutes and for policies that create breastfeeding‑friendly environments in health facilities, workplaces and communities. “Breastfeeding is not only a mother’s responsibility; it is a shared responsibility,” she said, noting persistent barriers such as poor family support, misconceptions, aggressive formula marketing and limited workplace accommodations.
NaNA Director General Malang N Fofana said NaNA — housed in the Office of the Vice‑President and mandated to coordinate national nutrition interventions — will lead efforts to translate global guidance into national action. “Our goal is that every Gambian child, regardless of background or place of birth, is fed according to the gold standard,” he said, defining that standard as initiation within the first hour, exclusive breastfeeding for six months, frequent on‑demand feeding, and continued breastfeeding to two years or beyond.
Fofana highlighted progress and gaps: The Gambia’s exclusive breastfeeding rate is about 54 percent, above the global average of 48 percent, but early initiation within the first hour is low at 36 percent. “Breastfeeding rates do not hinge on individual choice alone; they succeed or fail depending on systems built around the mother,” he said. He pointed to effective interventions — the Baby‑Friendly Hospital and Community Initiatives, social and behaviour change communication, family support groups, and legal measures such as maternity leave under the Women’s Act 2010 and the Labour Act 2023 — and called for updated regulations to curb formula marketing on social media and stronger enforcement in health facilities.
Unicef Representative Nafisa Binte Shafique said breastfeeding is foundational to human capital development, protecting children from malnutrition and infection and supporting healthy growth and learning.
Organisers said week‑long activities will include community engagements and media sensitisation to ensure every mother receives the support needed to breastfeed successfully.