Friday, August 1, 2025
Jakarta, 1 August 2025 – As Indonesia commemorates World Breastfeeding Week 2025, UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) highlight the importance of strengthening support systems for breastfeeding mothers across the country. The theme, “Prioritize Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems,” emphasizes the need for reliable and long-lasting support for mothers, including skilled health workers, workplace policies, and community networks. UNICEF Indonesia Representative Maniza Zaman and WHO Representative Dr. N. Paranietharan commend Indonesia’s progress in exclusive breastfeeding, noting a steady rise from 52% in 2017 to 66.4% in 2024, demonstrating the country’s commitment to promoting breastfeeding. Despite this progress, many infants remain not exclusively breastfed for the full six months, emphasizing the need for supportive systems to ensure mothers have access to resources. UNICEF and WHO recommend that infants receive breastfed within one hour of birth and exclusively breastfed in their first six months, with no other foods or liquids. Breastfeeding is crucial for cognitive development, reducing health risks, and providing lifelong protection. The WHO and UNICEF urge stakeholders to accelerate efforts to support breastfeeding mothers, including workplace and community initiatives, to ensure sustainable and effective support.
Reference: Breastfeeding in Indonesia on the rise, but mothers need more supportLabels: WHO
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