By Zamzam Daqare. - Reporter
Somalia, 1 August 2026 — Only 30% of Somali mothers exclusively breastfeed their children during the first six months, Health Minister Ali Haji Aden said Saturday, calling for stronger efforts to promote breastfeeding.
Aden made the remarks at an event marking World Breastfeeding Week, observed annually from Aug. 1 to 7, as Somalia joined other countries in commemorating the occasion.
The minister said there was no substitute for breast milk and noted that the government had banned advertisements for breast milk substitutes.
“There is no milk that can replace breast milk, and we have banned advertisements promoting products that can be used as substitutes for breastfeeding,” Aden said.
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The event, organized by the Ministry of Health and Social Care, was attended by representatives of UN agencies, doctors, and community members.
The ministry also launched regulations aimed at controlling breast milk substitutes. According to the ministry, the regulations had previously been incorporated into the country’s medicines law and approved by both chambers of Somalia’s Federal Parliament.
The Ministry of Health called on Somali mothers to prioritize breastfeeding, recommending exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a child’s life to support health and development.