Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure a baby’s health, development, and survival. It acts as a baby’s first vaccine, protecting them from illnesses like diarrhea and pneumonia.
While investing in breastfeeding is an investment in the future, only 48% of infants under six months are exclusively breastfed. This falls short of the World Health Assembly’s 2030 goal of 60%. This is largely due to challenges faced by mothers, health workers, and health systems.
Across the globe, millions of mothers don’t receive the timely and skilled support they need in healthcare settings.
Key Issues and Solutions
The lack of support for new mothers is a significant problem:
- Insufficient Training: Only one in five countries trains doctors and nurses on how to properly feed infants and young children. This means most new mothers leave the hospital without proper guidance on breastfeeding.
- Under-resourced Health Systems: Many healthcare systems lack the resources, funding, and equipment to provide consistent, quality, evidence-based breastfeeding support.
- Lack of Investment: Despite a high return on investment—every dollar spent on breastfeeding support generates US$35 in economic returns—funding for these programs remains critically low.
A Call to Action
In honor of World Breastfeeding Week, with the theme “Prioritize breastfeeding: Create sustainable support systems,” the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF are urging governments and health organizations to invest in high-quality breastfeeding support.
They are calling for action in these key areas:
- Increase Funding: Provide sufficient investment and national budget allocations for breastfeeding programs and equitable maternal and newborn care.
- Integrate Support Services: Make breastfeeding counseling a standard part of routine maternal and child health services, from prenatal to postnatal care.
- Improve Training: Equip all healthcare providers with the necessary skills and knowledge to support breastfeeding, even in emergency situations.
- Strengthen Community Systems: Build stronger community health systems to ensure every new mother receives ongoing, accessible support for up to two years and beyond.
- Protect Breastfeeding: Enforce the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes in all health facilities to protect against harmful marketing practices.
Strengthening health systems to support breastfeeding is not only a health priority but also a moral and economic one. The WHO and UNICEF remain committed to helping countries build resilient health systems that support every mother and child.