World Breastfeeding week

World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from 1 to 7 August to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world. It commemorates the Innocenti Declaration signed in August 1990 by government policymakers, WHO, UNICEF and other organizations to protect, promote and support breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding is the best way to provide infants with the nutrients they need. WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding starting within one hour after birth until a baby is 6 months old. Nutritious complementary foods should then be added while continuing to breastfeed for up to 2 years or beyond.

World Breastfeeding Week 2024 - Breastfeeding support for all

The theme for 2024 is Closing the gap: Breastfeeding support for all. 

The campaign will celebrate breastfeeding mums in all their diversity, throughout their breastfeeding journeys, while showcasing the ways families, societies, communities and health workers can have the back of every breastfeeding mum. It will focus on survival, health and wellbeing. It will showcase the need to improve breastfeeding support to reduce inequalities that exist in our society with a special focus on breastfeeding in times of emergencies and crises. Breastfeeding can act as an equaliser in our society and efforts must be made to ensure everyone has access to breastfeeding support and opportunities. It is essential that no-one is left behind especially vulnerable mothers who may need additional support to reduce breastfeeding inequalities.

Warm chain of support for breastfeeding

The Warm Chain campaign places the mother-baby dyad at the core. It strives to link different actors across the health, community and workplace sectors to provide a continuum of care during the first 1000 days.

WHO and UNICEF Recommendation for Optimal Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) Practices

1. Early initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of birth
2. Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life
3. Continued breastfeeding up to two years of age or beyond, with the introduction of nutritionally adequate and safe complementary (solid) foods at six months

Objectives of WABA World Breastfeeding Week 2024

1. INFORM - people about inequalities that exist in breastfeeding support and prevalence
2. ANCHOR - breastfeeding as an equaliser to close gaps within society
3. ENGAGE - with individuals and organisations to enhance collaboration and support for breastfeeding
4. GALVANISE - action on reducing inequalities in breastfeeding support by focusing on vulnerable groups

Source: WABA World breastfeeding Week website

Related resources

1. WHO Infographics on Breastfeeding
2. WABA World Breastfeeding Week 2023 Materials