Breastfeeding and Maternal Health Rates Improve in Lagos
Breastfeeding and Maternal Health Rates Improve in Lagos
Lagos State has recorded major gains in maternal and child health following targeted nutrition programs under the Alive & Thrive project. Between 2023 and 2025, early initiation of breastfeeding rose by 17 per cent, while exclusive breastfeeding increased by 10.8 per cent.
The achievements were announced in Lagos during the closeout of the Accelerating the Scale of Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (ASMIYCN) project. Stakeholders, including government officials and development partners, pledged to sustain the progress.
Dr. Olawumi Ajayi, Lagos team lead for FHI 360/Alive & Thrive, said the project focused on strengthening health systems and tackling nutrition challenges affecting women and children. She noted that when the program resumed in 2022, early breastfeeding stood at just 14 per cent, exclusive breastfeeding at 37.4 per cent, and nearly half of women of reproductive age were anemic.
“With the support of the Ministry of Health and the Primary Health Care Board, we expanded interventions across the state,” Ajayi said. “By 2025, we saw remarkable progress in both breastfeeding and maternal nutrition.”
The project trained 393 frontline health workers across 124 primary health centers. Nutrition counselling was integrated into antenatal and postnatal care, while over 270 community volunteers engaged families on proper feeding practices. Media campaigns also reached hundreds of thousands with nutrition messages.
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At the event, FHI 360 Policy and Advocacy Lead, Toyin Adewale Gabriel, described the project as “a journey of collaboration and innovation.” She praised the Lagos State government and community partners for their role in driving the results.
A representative of the Gates Foundation, Kunle Daramola, highlighted the impact of multiple micronutrient supplementation (MMS), saying it had laid the foundation for safer births and healthier pregnancies.
The Lagos State Primary Health Care Board also commended the project for equipping health workers and improving service delivery. Dr. Ibrahim Akinwunmi Mustafa, represented by Dr. Temitope Balogun, said the program strengthened systems that would benefit mothers and children long-term.
Dr. Folasade Oludare, Director of Family Health and Nutrition at the Ministry of Health, expressed gratitude to Alive & Thrive for supporting policies that integrate maternal and child nutrition into mainstream healthcare.
The ASMIYCN project, backed by Alive & Thrive and its partners, has now closed out, but its impact is expected to shape maternal and child health outcomes in Lagos for years to come.
Content Credit: Moyosola Oni
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