In commemoration of the World Breastfeeding Week, which is annually marked from 1 to 7 August, UNICEF and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have called for equitable access to breastfeeding support, underscoring its critical role in improving global health outcomes.
A joint statement by Catherine Russell, UNICEF executive director, and Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, highlighted the significant progress in exclusive breastfeeding rates over the past twelve years, which have increased by over 10 per cent, now benefiting 48 per cent of infants under six months worldwide.
Despite this progress, they agreed that reaching the WHO’s target of 50 per cent exclusive breastfeeding by 2025 remains challenging. Enhanced breastfeeding support could potentially save over 820,000 children’s lives annually. Breastfeeding offers critical antibodies that protect infants from illness and death, especially in emergency situations, while also reducing the risk of certain cancers and noncommunicable diseases in mothers.
With the theme, “Closing the gap: Breastfeeding support for all,” this year’s World Breastfeeding Week focuses on reducing health inequities and ensuring the rights of mothers and babies to thrive. Approximately 4.5 billion people lack comprehensive essential health services, leaving many women without the necessary support to breastfeed effectively. Access to trained health professionals and consistent, empathetic counseling is vital throughout the breastfeeding journey.
They maintained that accurate data collection is essential for addressing healthcare disparities and ensuring effective breastfeeding support. Currently, only half of the world’s countries collect breastfeeding data, noting that reliable data on policy actions such as family-friendly employment policies, regulation of breastmilk substitute marketing, and investment in breastfeeding is crucial for informed decision-making and program effectiveness.
The duo of Russell and Ghebreyesus emphasised the shared responsibility of families, communities, healthcare workers, policymakers, and other stakeholders in promoting and supporting breastfeeding.
They called for further advocacy for key actions like implementation of family-friendly workplace policies, including paid maternity leave and breastfeeding breaks, enforcing regulations on the marketing of breastmilk substitutes and so on.
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