By Kingsley Ochieng
Africa’s future will depend on the children growing up today. Governments across the continent are investing in better schools, digital skills and job creation because they know that a healthy, educated population is the foundation of economic growth. But one of the most important investments in a child’s future happens long before they walk into a classroom. It begins in the first hours of life.
As the world marks World Breastfeeding Week from 1 to 7 August, it is worth looking at breastfeeding differently. We often think of it as a health issue or a mother’s responsibility. It is both, but it is also much bigger than that. Giving every child the best possible start in life should matter just as much as building schools, expanding healthcare or creating jobs.
The evidence is clear. Breastfeeding is one of the simplest and most effective ways to keep babies healthy. Breastmilk provides all the nutrients an infant needs during the first six months while protecting against illnesses such as diarrhoea and pneumonia, which remain among the leading causes of child deaths. It also supports healthy brain development. Mothers benefit too, with breastfeeding reducing the risk of breast and ovarian cancers and supporting recovery after childbirth.
Despite these benefits, progress has been slow. The World Health Organization estimates that only 48% of infants under six months are exclusively breastfed. More than half of the world’s babies therefore miss out on the full benefits of exclusive breastfeeding during the most important stage of their development. The World Health Assembly wants that figure to reach 60% by 2030, but getting there will require more than awareness campaigns.
Africa has the world’s youngest population, yet millions of children still experience stunting, wasting and other forms of malnutrition. UNICEF estimates that nearly one in three children under five in sub-Saharan Africa is stunted, affecting both physical growth and brain development. Those early setbacks often follow children into school and later into working life, making it harder for them to reach their full potential.
That is why the first 1,000 days of a child’s life, from pregnancy to their second birthday, matter so much. Good nutrition during this period shapes how children grow, learn and develop. Breastfeeding is one of the strongest foundations a child can have, but it is difficult to sustain when mothers are left to manage on their own.
Across Africa, many women return to work within weeks of giving birth because they cannot afford a longer break. Millions work in the informal economy, where paid maternity leave is rare or does not exist. Even in formal employment, breastfeeding-friendly workplaces remain uncommon. Many offices still have no private space to express milk,
little flexibility for nursing mothers and few policies that recognise the realities of caring for a newborn.
For women running market stalls, working on farms, employed in factories or managing small businesses, breastfeeding often means trying to balance the needs of a baby with the need to earn an income. Most do not stop breastfeeding because they doubt its value. They stop because the circumstances around them make it incredibly difficult to continue.
Health services face similar challenges. Skilled breastfeeding support during pregnancy and after delivery can make a significant difference, especially for first-time mothers. Yet many women leave health facilities without practical guidance on common challenges such as latching or maintaining milk supply. Those first few days often determine whether breastfeeding continues successfully.
The marketing of breastmilk substitutes is also becoming harder to ignore. While infant formula has an important place when breastfeeding is not possible, aggressive and sometimes misleading marketing can undermine mothers’ confidence. African governments have an important role in enforcing the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes so that parents receive accurate information and can make informed decisions.
Creating an environment where breastfeeding is possible requires support from far more than mothers. Governments can strengthen maternity protections. Employers can provide flexible working arrangements and breastfeeding-friendly workplaces. Health workers can give mothers the practical support they need, while fathers and extended families can share the responsibilities that come with caring for a newborn.
This year’s World Breastfeeding Week theme, “Prioritise Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems,” is a reminder that breastfeeding does not happen in isolation. Every mother depends on the people and systems around her. When those systems work well, children are healthier, families spend less on preventable illness and communities benefit.
Africa often speaks about investing in its people. That investment should not begin on a child’s first day of school or when they enter the workforce. It begins much earlier, by giving every mother the support, time and opportunity to give her child the healthiest possible start in life.
Kingsley Ochieng is a strategic communications professional who advises organisations working across development, agriculture, health and sustainability in Africa.