Somalia Marks World Breastfeeding Week 2026 with Landmark Breast-milk Substitutes Regulations

Mogadishu, 1 August 2026 - The Federal Ministry of Health and Human Services (FMoH), together with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO), and partners across Somalia, today marked a major milestone for child health and nutrition with the official signing and launch of the Somalia Breast-milk Substitutes (BMS) Regulations during the national opening of World Breastfeeding Week 2026.

The adoption of the BMS Regulations represents a landmark achievement for Somalia, strengthening the country's commitment to protecting, promoting, and supporting breastfeeding. By regulating the marketing of breast-milk substitutes in line with international standards and national commitments, the new legislation will help protect families from inappropriate commercial influence and create an enabling environment where mothers can make informed infant feeding decisions and every child has the healthiest possible start in life.

This milestone comes as Somalia joins the global community in commemorating World Breastfeeding Week, observed from 1–7 August under the theme "Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works." This year's theme highlights the importance of scaling up proven interventions, strengthening policies and health systems, and expanding community support to ensure that every mother is able to successfully breastfeed.

Breastfeeding is one of the most effective and cost-efficient investments in child survival, nutrition, health, and human capital development. Early breastfeeding within the first hour of birth, exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life, and continued breastfeeding alongside appropriate complementary feeding up to two years and beyond significantly reduce child morbidity and mortality. In Somalia, however, optimal breastfeeding practices remain a challenge. While approximately 60% of newborns are breastfed within the first hour of life, only 34% of infants under six months are exclusively breastfed and continued breastfeeding declines to 49% at one year and 40% at two years, highlighting significant missed opportunities to improve child survival and nutrition.

In Somalia, breastfeeding remains a cornerstone of efforts to improve maternal and child nutrition and reduce all forms of malnutrition. Important progress has been achieved through strengthened Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) programmes, enhanced capacity of health workers and Community Health Workers, expanded community-based counselling and mother support groups, and increased advocacy for breastfeeding-friendly policies and services. The adoption of the BMS Regulations builds on these efforts by providing a stronger legal framework to safeguard breastfeeding and support improved nutrition outcomes for children across the country.

The Federal Ministry of Health, UNICEF, and WHO call upon government institutions, health professionals, employers, civil society organizations, development partners, community leaders, and families to strengthen collective action to ensure a sustainable start in life for every child by protecting, promoting, and supporting breastfeeding across the health system; expanding quality community-based breastfeeding counselling and mother support services; accelerating the implementation and enforcement of the Breast-milk Substitutes (BMS) Regulations; strengthening monitoring, learning, and evidence-based programming; promoting maternity protection and breastfeeding-friendly workplaces and public spaces; and engaging fathers, families, and communities to create enabling environments where mothers can successfully breastfeed.

As Somalia commemorates World Breastfeeding Week 2026, the Federal Ministry of Health, UNICEF, and WHO count on families, communities, health workers, policymakers, development partners, and the private sector to renew their commitment to protecting, promoting, and supporting breastfeeding. Every mother deserves the information, skilled support, and enabling environment she needs to breastfeed successfully, and every child deserves the life-saving and lifelong benefits that breastfeeding provides. 

Dr. Ali Haji Adam, Minister of Health and Human Services, Federal Government of Somalia, said:

"Breastfeeding is one of the most effective interventions for ensuring children survive, grow, and thrive. As we commemorate World Breastfeeding Week 2026, we reaffirm the Government's commitment to creating an enabling environment where every mother receives the support she needs to breastfeed successfully. The signing of the Breast-milk Substitutes (BMS) Regulations marks a historic milestone in Somalia's efforts to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding and safeguard every child's right to the best possible start in life."

UNICEF Representative in Somalia, Sandra Lattouf, said:

“The adoption of Somalia’s Breast-milk Substitutes Regulations is a major step towards protecting breastfeeding, which saves lives by providing infants with vital immunity and optimal nutrition. The priority now is effective implementation, with strong monitoring, enforcement, and support for families to ensure mothers are protected from inappropriate marketing of breast-milk substitutes. UNICEF is committed to supporting the Government of Somalia to put these regulations into practice through stronger health systems, quality counselling, and community-based support so that every child has the opportunity to thrive.”

Dr. Kamil Mohamed WHO Representative to Somalia, said:

"Breastfeeding is a priority of public health and one of the most cost-effective interventions for improving maternal and child health. WHO remains committed to supporting Somalia in implementing evidence-based policies and strengthening health systems that protect, promote, and support optimal breastfeeding."

Together, let us strengthen what works and invest in breastfeeding as the foundation of a healthier, more resilient, and sustainable future for every child in Somalia.