Sunday, August 3, 2025
Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure a baby’s health, development, and survival in the earliest stages of life. It acts as their first vaccine, providing protection against diseases such as diarrhea and pneumonia. However, only 48% of infants under six months are exclusively breastfed, below the World Health Assembly’s target of 60% by 2030. This is due to the challenges faced by new mothers, health workers, and health systems. Millions of mothers lack timely and skilled support when they need it most, with only a fifth of countries including infant and young child feeding training for healthcare providers. This results in many mothers leaving hospitals without guidance on breastfeeding or complementary feeding. In many countries, health systems are under-resourced, fragmented, or poorly equipped to deliver quality, consistent, and evidence-based breastfeeding support. Even with every dollar invested, the economic returns from breastfeeding support are limited. As we mark World Breastfeeding Week, WHO and UNICEF urge governments, health administrators, and partners to invest in high-quality breastfeeding support by strengthening health systems to support breastfeeding, which is not only a health imperative but a moral and economic one.
Reference: On World Breastfeeding Week, countries urged to invest in health systems and support breastfeeding mothersLabels: WHO
0 Comments