The Ministry of health and medical industry of Turkmenistan, the Charitable Foundation for Assistance to Children in Need of Guardianship named after Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, and UNICEF have launched a national campaign aimed at strengthening support for mothers in ensuring exclusive breastfeeding of their children for the first six months of life.
As part of the initiative, a series of videos has been created that are regularly broadcast on national television and published on social media. Initial results demonstrate high audience engagement. Because the project is aimed at young families and nursing mothers, the videos have already received a significant number of views, and their key messages have resonated with the online community of young parents.
Specialised medical specialists and young mothers participated in the creation of the video materials. The video program covers the entire cycle of caring for the health of a baby. Preventive care begins during pregnancy: family doctors and gynecologists provide expectant mothers with practical advice on preparing for lactation.
In their materials, experts pay special attention to the most important rule: in the first six months of the life of a child, there is no need to rush into introducing artificial formula. Breast milk is the ideal and safe food created by nature itself. It fully provides the baby with energy, vitamins and minerals necessary for growth.
«Mother’s milk is the ideal food for a child, a source of health and maternal care. Breast milk provides complete nutrition, strengthens the immune system, promotes healthy growth and development, and protects against many diseases. Breastfeeding benefits not only children, but also mothers and families», – notes the statement from Vice-president of the charitable foundation, Oguljahan Atabayeva.
The campaign also includes awareness-raising activities, training for health workers and community breastfeeding counselors, family engagement initiatives, and advocacy for stronger breastfeeding protections through legislation and employer policies.
Results from the latest Multiple indicator cluster survey (MICS) show that the country has a high rate of early initiation of breastfeeding. However, there are challenges in maintaining the practice of exclusive breastfeeding. A significant number of newborns receive breast milk within the first hour after birth. However, the proportion of children who are exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life has declined in recent years.
«Supporting breastfeeding is a shared responsibility, –said UNICEF Representative in Turkmenistan Jalpa Ratna. – Mothers need support not only from health workers, but also from fathers, grandparents, local communities and employers. By creating supportive environments for breastfeeding at home, in health care settings and in the workplace, we can help more women continue breastfeeding and give more babies the healthiest start in life».
The campaign, which will run from May to August 2026, aims to increase access to reliable breastfeeding information, develop counselling support for mothers, engage families and communities, and promote breastfeeding-friendly policies and workplaces.
The partners of the campaign include primary health care institutions, the Women's Union of Turkmenistan, national media, opinion leaders on social media, private sector employers, and development partners.
Such initiatives are of vital importance for the domestic healthcare system. They help young parents receive timely, reliable medical information, foster a culture of healthy motherhood, and lay a solid foundation for the health of future generations.
