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Overview
The World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year in the first week of August, championed by WHO, UNICEF, Ministries of Health and civil society partners around the globe. It’s a time to recognize breastfeeding as a powerful foundation for lifelong health, development, and equity, and a critical investment in the future. This year’s theme” Invest in breastfeeding, invest in the future”calls for;
- Health systems that offer skilled, sustained breastfeeding support from pregnancy through early childhood
- Policies, laws and programmes that prioritize women, babies, and breastfeeding
- Community solidarity to uphold every woman and baby’s right to breastfeed anytime, anywhere.
Key messages
Why invest in breastfeeding:
- Breastfeeding is not just a health intervention—it’s smart economics. Every $1 invested in breastfeeding support is estimated to return up to $35 in public health and productivity gains.
- Breastfeeding protects child health and improves survival, especially in the first months of life. In addition to essential nutrition, it provides critical antibodies that protect against many common illnesses like diarrhoea, pneumonia, and infections.
- The impacts of breastfeeding extend well beyond infancy. Breastfed children are less likely to become overweight or obese and have a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes and other chronic conditions. Mothers also benefit – breastfeeding reduces the risk of postpartum haemorrhage, breast and ovarian cancers, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.
- With the right investments, countries can significantly increase rates of exclusive breastfeeding. Around 10% more infants today are exclusively breastfed in the first 6 months compared to 2013, with some countries seeing 20% increases over this same period.
Key actions for governments
- Invest in the future. Allocate dedicated funding for breastfeeding support, including by ensuring all mothers have access to skilled breastfeeding support in hospital and when they take their babies home, alongside robust maternity protections like paid leave after having a baby.
- Implement the WHO Code. Fully adopt and enforce the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes to safeguard public health.
- Lead by example. Champion investment in breastfeeding in national health strategies and ensure accountability through legislation, regulation and monitoring of breastfeeding programmes.
- Put babies before bottom lines. Enact and enforce policies that protect breastfeeding and prevent commercial influence over infant feeding.
Key actions for the health sector
- Support every step of the journey. Provide skilled, compassionate breastfeeding support from pregnancy through early childhood, ensuring mothers have ongoing access to trained breastfeeding counselling from pregnancy through the early years – providing particular support at moments of transition.
- Train and empower health workers. Ensure all health workers covering maternal and child health are equipped with up-to-date breastfeeding knowledge and skills.
- Create breastfeeding-friendly health systems. Make hospitals and clinics safe, supportive spaces for breastfeeding through the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative and beyond.
Key actions for the general public
- We can all step up to support mums. Families, friends, employers, and communities all play a role in supporting breastfeeding mothers and creating supportive environments for them to breastfeed anytime, anywhere.
- Know the facts. Breastfeeding is a natural, powerful way to give babies the best start in life strengthening their immune systems, helping them fight diseases – now and in the future – and providing vital comfort and nutrition.
- Speak up for breastfeeding support. Advocate for policies and environments that make breastfeeding easier and more accessible for all families.
WHO communications
#WorldBreastfeedingWeek #HopefulFutures
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