By Staff Reporter
As Zimbabwe joins the rest of the world in commemorating World Breastfeeding Week 2026, Nutrition Action Zimbabwe (NAZ) has called for stronger community-led support systems to help more mothers exclusively breastfeed their babies, saying communities—not mothers alone—hold the key to improving child nutrition and survival.
This year’s World Breastfeeding Week, observed from August 1 to 7, is being commemorated under the theme “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works.” The campaign highlights the need to expand proven interventions that enable mothers to breastfeed successfully while ensuring every child receives the best possible start in life.
NAZ says while exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months remains one of the most effective interventions for improving child survival, protecting infants against disease, and supporting healthy development, many Zimbabwean mothers continue to face cultural, social and economic barriers that make optimal breastfeeding difficult.
To address these challenges, the organisation is scaling up its community-based Care Group model across eight districts—Mangwe, Beitbridge, Chipinge, Gokwe North, Mt Darwin, Mbire, Buhera and Tsholotsho—where trained peer supporters provide practical breastfeeding advice, counselling and psychosocial support to mothers and caregivers.
NAZ Executive Director Tapiwa Magaisa said breastfeeding should be viewed as a shared community responsibility rather than a task left solely to mothers.
“Breastfeeding is not a mother’s responsibility alone—it is a collective community investment. To strengthen what works, we must embed support directly within households and villages. Our Care Groups are proving that when mothers receive continuous, localized support, exclusive breastfeeding rates rise, directly reducing malnutrition and childhood mortality,” said Magaisa.
The organisation said the Care Group approach is strengthening grassroots health systems by empowering mothers with knowledge while creating support networks that encourage optimal infant feeding practices.
Recognising the critical role men play in maternal and child health, NAZ is also encouraging fathers and male guardians to become active participants in supporting breastfeeding mothers.
In districts such as Beitbridge, Mbire and Tsholotsho, male support groups are helping challenge traditional gender norms by assisting with household chores, promoting maternal rest, supporting the nutritional needs of breastfeeding women and encouraging positive family involvement in infant care.
NAZ Nutrition Coordinator Chisichawo Mutendadzamera said engaging men has become an important strategy for improving breastfeeding outcomes.
“When fathers understand the biological and economic value of exclusive breastfeeding, they become its biggest defenders. Involving men transforms breastfeeding from a solitary chore into a shared family priority,” said Mutendadzamera.
Beyond promoting exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life, NAZ said its programmes also focus on ensuring children continue receiving nutritious complementary foods from six months onwards through household food security initiatives and climate-resilient nutrition interventions.
Working alongside village health workers, local leaders and health facilities, the organisation is supporting communities to improve nutrition while strengthening resilience against food insecurity in some of Zimbabwe’s most vulnerable districts.
As part of this year’s World Breastfeeding Week commemorations, NAZ has called on government ministries, development partners, civil society organisations, community leaders and the media to intensify public awareness campaigns that promote, protect and support breastfeeding across the country.
The organisation said investing in mothers today is an investment in Zimbabwe’s future, with stronger community support systems expected to improve child nutrition, reduce preventable childhood illnesses and contribute to healthier communities.
According to the World Health Organization, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life provides all the nutrients infants need during early development while significantly reducing the risk of diarrhoea, pneumonia and other leading causes of child mortality. Continued breastfeeding alongside appropriate complementary foods up to two years of age and beyond also contributes to improved growth, cognitive development and long-term health outcomes.
