The overall goal of the National Policy on Infant and Young Child Feeding in Nigeria is to ensure the optimal growth, protection and development of the Nigerian child from birth to the first five years of life. Click here to download the policy document. The draft policy issued in 2005 reaffirms government’s commitment to optimal feeding of all children from birth, as a public health measure, and the implementation of the global strategy for infant and young child feeding for improved child survival.

The situation of Nigerian children, like in many other developing countries, has worsened progressively in the last two decades, resulting in high child deaths and threats to future productivity and development. On 8 September 2000, a total of 189 countries including Nigeria, adopted the United Nations Millennium Declaration, recognising that they have a duty to human development.

Chapter 8 of the National Health Policy emphasizes the importance of partnerships and collaborations in health care provisioning. This policy document addresses the aspiration outlined in the National Health Policy and articulates the dimensions of public private partnerships and interactions, and how these should be strengthened in order to serve the people of Nigeria.

Government mandate requires that a National Health Information System (NHIS) shall be established by all governments of the federation to be used as a management tool to support evidence-based decision-making.

Click here to download the policy document (PDF). Please note this is a large file (1.4 MB).