Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and UNICEF Chief Catherine Russell, issued a joint statement on Mondaymarks the start of World Breastfeeding Week, and shows that global crises, supply chain shocks and insecurity threaten the health and nutrition of millions of babies. infants and children than ever before.
World Breastfeeding Week, with its theme Enhancing breastfeeding: Education and SupportUNICEF and WHO are calling on governments to allocate increased resources to protect, promote and support breastfeeding policies and programmes, especially for the most vulnerable families living in poverty. state of emergency.
Safe, nutritious, accessible
In emergencies, including those in Afghanistan, Yemen, Ukraine, Horn of Africaand the vast Sahel region of Africa, breastfeeding ensures safe, nutritious and accessible food for infants and young children, the agency’s head noted.
“It provides a strong line of defense against disease and all forms of childhood malnutrition, including emaciation. Breastfeeding also serves as a baby’s first dose of vaccine, protecting them from common childhood illnesses.
However, they added, “the mental distress, physical exhaustion, lack of space and privacy, and poor sanitation experienced by mothers during emergencies, mean is that many babies are missing out on the benefits of breastfeeding to help them survive.”
Lactation deficit
According to the UN, less than half of babies are breastfed within the first hour of life, making them more susceptible to illness and death. And just 44% of babies are exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life, well below the WHO-run World Health Assembly target of 50% by 2025.
“Protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding is more important than ever, not only to protect our planet as the last natural, sustainable food system, but for the survival, growth and development of millions of infants,” Tedros and Ms. Russell.
Action point
To increase the number of breastfed babies worldwide, governments, donors, civil society and the private sector need to focus on four key areas, said the head of the agency.
- Prioritize investments in policies and programs that support breastfeeding, especially in fragile and food-insecure situations.
- Equip health and nutrition staff in facilities and communities with the skills needed to provide quality counseling and practical support to mothers.
- Protect caregivers and healthcare workers from Unethical marketing influence of the infant formula industryby applying and fully implementing International marketing rules for breast milk substituteseven in a humanitarian environment.
- Implement family-friendly public health initiatives and policies that provide mothers with the time, space and support they need to breastfeed.
