World Breastfeeding Week is observed from August 1 to August 7. (Image: Shutterstock)
World Breastfeeding Week is observed to increase public awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding for both the mother and the child. This year’s theme is “Closing the gap: Breastfeeding support for all”.
World Breastfeeding Week is marked in over 120 countries from August 1 to August 7. Breastfeeding is essential for the sustainable development of a child as it enhances nutrition, guarantees food security, and lessens inequality both internationally and domestically. All forms of child malnutrition, including wasting and obesity, can be avoided by nursing a child till he or she is 2 years old. Additionally, breastfeeding also serves as a baby’s first vaccination, shielding them from a variety of common childhood ailments.
World Breastfeeding Week History
First observed in 1992, World Breastfeeding Week honours the Innocenti Declaration, which was signed in August 1990 to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding by government officials, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and other organizations. The main objectives of the week are to raise awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding, to support and encourage it, and to enhance the health of mothers and babies everywhere.
With an emphasis on healthy eating, eradicating poverty, and ensuring access to food, World Breastfeeding Week seeks to raise awareness of the enormous advantages that breastfeeding can have for both mother and child health as well as infant welfare. The double objectives of this week are to enhance babies’ health and to advocate, defend, and uphold women’s rights to breastfeed whenever and wherever they choose.
World Breastfeeding Week Theme
Every year, World Breastfeeding Day is celebrated with a new theme chosen by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA). “Closing the gap: Breastfeeding support for all” is the theme for this year. The campaign will highlight the ways that families, communities, societies, and healthcare professionals can support all breastfeeding mothers while celebrating them in all of their diversity and throughout their breastfeeding journeys.
Significance And Benefits of Breastfeeding
- The promotion of breastfeeding as an important means of giving newborns the best nutrition and immunity is the significance of World Breastfeeding Week.
- In addition to providing all the nutrients that a baby needs, breast milk also contains antibodies, enzymes, and other critical components that shield children from illnesses and infections.
- In addition, breastfeeding helps moms by strengthening the mother-child bond, accelerating postpartum recovery, and lowering the risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
- Worldwide events, seminars, and workshops are arranged throughout the week to address the difficulties faced by mothers and to increase knowledge of the benefits of breastfeeding.
- These events also show how important it is to have supportive policies, accommodating employers, and a culture of understanding in order to foster an atmosphere where breastfeeding is accepted and encouraged.
World Breastfeeding Week 2024 Quotes
- “It’s such a beautiful journey, and it doesn’t last long.” – Wholistic momma
- “Breastfeeding is a mother’s gift to herself, her baby and the earth.” – Pamela K Wiggins
- “Bottles fill his stomach, but breastfeeding fills his soul.” – Diane Wiessinger, IBCLC
- “Don’t cry over spilled milk. Unless it’s breast milk, in which case, cry a lot.”
- “Nursing gives you superhuman powers. How else could I be doing all this when I’m usually a sleepaholic?”.
