In a renewed drive to protect breastfeeding and curb the aggressive marketing of breast milk substitutes, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has inaugurated Breast Milk Substitutes (BMS) State Multi-Sectoral Technical Committees across 32 Nigerian states.
This step, as per NAFDAC, reflects its determination to enforce the International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes and ensure that formula companies aren’t pushing their products on unsuspecting parents.
NAFDAC’s Resident Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola, confirmed this on Sunday, saying these committees are part of the national strategy to shield breastfeeding practices from undue commercial influence. According to Akintola, the inauguration of these state teams aims to enforce the BMS regulations and, ultimately, to counter the cleverly disguised tactics that breast milk substitute manufacturers use to undermine breastfeeding.
The committees were officially launched in a virtual event, with NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, addressing the participants. She called on state teams to lead efforts locally, ensuring full compliance with both national and international codes that govern the marketing of breast milk substitutes. “Breastfeeding is a public health priority,” she declared. “It supports not only child health but also cognitive, emotional, and social development while shielding against infections and various diseases.”
Her message comes in response to recent calls by groups like the Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria and FHI 360 Alive & Thrive, who have urged the federal government to crack down on the relentless promotion of formula and other breast milk substitutes. These groups assert that the unrestricted marketing of formula jeopardizes breastfeeding, which is essential for child development and overall public health.
And it’s not just about babies. Breastfeeding offers profound health benefits for mothers too, reducing their risk of breast cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and obesity. As Prof. Adeyeye put it, “Breast milk is a tailor-made immune system booster, packed with hormones and nutrients that no manufactured product can replicate.”
Meanwhile, Mrs. Eva Edwards, Director of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition at NAFDAC, noted that while some state teams have been physically inaugurated in Kaduna, Yobe, Borno, Lagos, and the FCT, others have had to go the virtual route due to logistical hurdles. Nonetheless, Edwards expressed confidence that the 32 BMS committees will make a significant difference in their communities by promoting breastfeeding and curbing harmful marketing.
The online inauguration saw over 300 attendees from various stakeholders, including the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, UNICEF, the World Health Organization, FHI360, and Save the Children, all aligning on the goal of improving infant nutrition across Nigeria. Mrs. Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi, Director of Nutrition at the Ministry of Health, emphasized the collective mission to overcome funding challenges, ensuring that every Nigerian child has access to optimal nutrition.
With these new BMS committees, NAFDAC aims to create a ripple effect across Nigeria, ensuring breastfeeding is encouraged and protected.
