World Health Organization and UNICEF Call for Enhanced Breastfeeding Support

Breastfeeding is critical for infants' health, development, and survival, providing protection against diseases including diarrhoea and pneumonia. However, despite its benefits, only 48% of infants under six months are exclusively breastfed, falling short of the World Health Assembly target of 60% by 2030. This is due to a lack of timely and skilled support in healthcare settings, with only 20% of countries providing infant and young child feeding training for healthcare workers.

Key Takeaways:

• Only 48% of infants under six months are exclusively breastfed, failing to meet the World Health Assembly target of 60% by 2030.
• Millions of mothers worldwide lack timely and skilled support in healthcare settings, with only 20% of countries providing infant and young child feeding training for healthcare workers.
• Investment in breastfeeding support remains critically low, despite generating $35 in economic returns for every dollar invested.
• Only a fifth of countries include infant and young child feeding training for healthcare workers, leading to a lack of guidance for new mothers on breastfeeding.
• Health systems in many countries are under-resourced, fragmented, or poorly equipped to deliver quality, consistent, evidence-based breastfeeding support.
• WHO and UNICEF are calling on governments, health administrators, and partners to invest in high-quality breastfeeding support, including ensuring adequate investment in equitable, quality maternal and newborn care.
• Strengthening community health systems to provide ongoing breastfeeding support to new mothers for up to two years and beyond is essential.
• Protecting breastfeeding by applying the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes in all health facilities and systems is crucial.

Statistics:

• Only 48% of infants under six months are exclusively breastfed (Source: World Health Organization).
• 20% of countries provide infant and young child feeding training for healthcare workers (Source: World Health Organization).
• Investment in breastfeeding support generates $35 in economic returns for every dollar invested (Source: World Health Organization).
• 48% of infants under six months are not exclusively breastfed, meaning they are not receiving the full benefits of breastfeeding (Source: World Health Organization).

Sources:

• Joint statement by WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell (World Health Organization).
• World Health Organization's statement on breastfeeding support (World Health Organization).
• About WHO, excerpt on the organization's mission and role in global health (World Health Organization).
• About UNICEF, excerpt on the organization's mission and role in global children's welfare (UNICEF).