The 16th national campaign is urging exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months while mobilising health workers, communities and media across Morocco.
Morocco’s Ministry of Health and Social Protection, working with the National Initiative for Human Development, has opened the 16th national campaign to promote breastfeeding, a month-long drive that began on 20 October and runs until 20 November 2026. The message at the centre of the effort is direct: exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life is enough, and the authorities are once again using the annual campaign to push that advice into homes, clinics and local communities.
According to the ministry’s announcement, the campaign is tied to wider public-health goals, including better maternal and child nutrition and a stronger focus on early childhood as the foundation of human development. It also sits within Morocco’s National Communication Strategy for Social and Behavioural Change, which seeks to encourage healthier habits during the first 1,000 days of a child’s life, a period widely regarded by health experts as decisive for long-term growth and development.
The ministry says the plan will include awareness-raising activities for mothers and the wider public, alongside mobilisation of health workers, community mediators and local media. Officials are also looking to reinforce the “Baby-Friendly Hospitals” initiative and to ensure compliance with the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes, a framework designed to limit the promotion of products that can undermine breastfeeding. The campaign also reflects international health guidance that recommends breastfeeding begin within the first hour after birth and continue exclusively for six months before the gradual introduction of complementary foods.
Beyond infant health, the ministry has pointed to breastfeeding as a measure with benefits for mothers too, including a lower risk of some diseases. By linking the campaign to royal directives on investing in human capital from early childhood, the government is presenting breastfeeding not only as a family matter but also as part of a broader national strategy for public health and social development.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
