Somalia Health Minister: Only 30% of Mothers Exclusively Breastfeed in First 6 Months. | Dawan Africa

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.