Breastfeeding is considered to be the healthiest way to feed your baby. Therefore, we advise feeding the baby only mother’s milk for the first six months after birth. The first week of August (August 1–7) is celebrated as World Breastfeeding Week. A number of local and international organizations have also supported the campaign. Learn more about the significance of this week’s celebration.
Why is World Breastfeeding Week celebrated?
To raise awareness about the importance of breastfeeding, we celebrate World Breastfeeding Week. We celebrate this week with a focus on the health of both the baby and the mother. This week, we not only educate people about the benefits of mother’s milk for the overall health of the baby, but also raise awareness about the health of the mother, better nutrition, poverty reduction, food security, and other related issues.
History
The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) celebrated the first World Breastfeeding Week in 1992. About 120 countries, including India, celebrate this week today. Throughout this week, various events, seminars, and workshops take place to tackle the challenges faced by mothers and increase awareness about the benefits of breastfeeding.
Theme Of the Week .
This year’s theme, “Bridging the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All,” is a change from previous years’ celebrations. We will celebrate this week to encourage lactating mothers and explore ways that families, society, the community, and health workers can support them.
We celebrate World Breastfeeding Week to raise awareness about the importance of breastfeeding for both mother and baby. World Breastfeeding Week also ensures that governments strive to meet the UN’s development goals by working on maternal and child health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), breastfeeding can save the lives of more than 820,000 children under the age of five each year. The WHO and UNICEF recommend breastfeeding within one hour of birth, and until the baby is at least six months old.
