Endowment Program
The MamaCare360 NICU Plus Programme is committed to promoting and supporting breastfeeding among newborns and mothers of infants requiring intensive medical care, recognising the numerous benefits it offers for both infants and mothers, including improved immunity, optimal growth and enhanced bonding.
Breastfeeding is one of the most effective interventions for ensuring newborn survival and lifelong health, providing all the nutrients, antibodies and energy an infant requires during the first six months of life. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 47% of deaths among children under five occur within the first 28 days of life, many from preventable causes that can be reduced through early initiation and optimal breastfeeding. Yet, the 2023–24 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) found that only 36% of newborns are breastfed within the first hour of birth, limiting access to the life-saving benefits of their own mother's milk. Through the MamaCare360 NICU Plus Programme, the Wellbeing Foundation Africa is strengthening neonatal care by increasing access to Own Mother's Milk (OMM) for preterm and vulnerable newborns, improving nutrition, reducing complications associated with prematurity, and giving every child the healthiest possible start in life.
The MamaCare360 NICU Plus Programme advances the Wellbeing Foundation Africa's commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being, particularly Target 3.2, which aims to end preventable deaths of newborns and children under five by 2030. Designed specifically for Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs), the programme delivers evidence-based lactation support, breastfeeding counselling, Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC), and family-centred education to mothers of preterm and low-birth-weight infants. By strengthening clinical capacity and empowering mothers with the knowledge and confidence to provide Own Mother's Milk, the programme improves neonatal nutrition while supporting better health outcomes for both newborns and their families.
This programme aims to -
Increase access to Own Mother's Milk (OMM) for preterm and vulnerable newborns in NICUs.
Improve exclusive breastfeeding practices through specialised lactation counselling and family-centred education.
Strengthen Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) as a proven intervention for improving neonatal survival and development.
Build the capacity of healthcare workers to deliver high-quality neonatal feeding and lactation support.
Generate evidence through routine monitoring and evaluation to strengthen programme quality and inform policy.
Reduce preventable neonatal morbidity and mortality, contributing to improved newborn survival and the achievement of SDG 3.2.
The MamaCare360 NICU Plus Programme combines specialised breastfeeding support with a robust monitoring and evaluation framework, enabling continuous learning, accountability and evidence-driven programme improvement. Implemented across five referral hospitals in the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos State and Kwara State, the programme supported 892 mothers and 1,002 newborns in 2025, achieving an 87.3% exclusive breastfeeding rate while facilitating the expression of more than 1.16 million millilitres of Own Mother's Milk for vulnerable infants. By translating evidence into practice and strengthening family-centred neonatal care, MamaCare360 NICU Plus is helping more newborns survive, thrive and reach their full potential.
When mothers are supported to breastfeed, newborns are given the strongest foundation to survive and thrive.
Since 2024, MamaCare360 NICU Plus has supported 1,878 newborns and 1,710 mothers across five hospitals, enabling the expression of more than 2 million millilitres of Own Mother's Milk
