By: Komba Fillie
As part of activities marking the climax of the national breastfeeding campaign, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, on Friday, August 7, 2026, took breastfeeding awareness messages to women, especially nursing mothers, at Congo Market in Freetown.
The outreach focused on educating mothers and the wider community on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding and its benefits for child health and development.
Speaking during the community engagement, Senior Nutritionist at the Ministry of Health, Adama Goivoi, who is attached to Kingharman Road Hospital, commended the partnership between the Ministry and UNICEF, noting that the initiative has helped to spread vital information on proper breastfeeding practices.
She explained that during their visits to various communities, the team has been emphasizing key messages, including the correct positioning of babies during breastfeeding and the importance of giving infants only breast milk during the first six months of life.
“Exclusive breastfeeding means that a child should not be given water or any other supplements apart from breast milk,” she stated, adding that the practice improves children’s health, strengthens their immunity, and reduces the risk of illnesses.
Madam Goivoi also encouraged men to support breastfeeding mothers by providing the necessary care and assistance to enable them to practice exclusive breastfeeding successfully.
Sharing her experience at Congo Market, one of the breastfeeding mothers, Haja Maria Seray, expressed appreciation for the awareness campaign. She noted that some young mothers are reluctant to breastfeed their children, but such education from health authorities has encouraged many women to adopt the practice.
Another mother, Kadija Koroma, said despite her busy schedule at the market, she remains committed to exclusive breastfeeding. She explained that she has been breastfeeding her child for seven months and has experienced no complications, adding that her baby has remained healthy.
Several other mothers at the market shared similar experiences, highlighting the positive impact of breastfeeding education and the importance of continued awareness to encourage more women to embrace exclusive breastfeeding.
The engagement formed part of broader efforts by the Government of Sierra Leone and its partners to improve child nutrition, reduce preventable childhood illnesses, and promote healthy growth and development among infants.