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The World Breastfeeding Week is marked every year in the first week of August, between 1 to 7 August to raise awareness on the importance of breastfeeding for mothers and infants.
Breastfeeding provides every child with the best possible start in life. It delivers health, nutritional and emotional benefits to both children and mothers. And it forms part of a sustainable food system. But while breastfeeding is a natural process, it is not always easy. Mothers need support – both to get started and to sustain breastfeeding.
World Breastfeeding Week: Theme
The theme of World Breastfeeding Week 2020 is “Support breastfeeding for a healthier planet”. In line with this theme, WHO and UNICEF are calling on governments to protect and promote women’s access to skilled breastfeeding counselling, a critical component of breastfeeding support.
World Breastfeeding Week: History
In 1991, the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) was formed to act on the Innocent Declaration of 1990 to protect, support, and promote breastfeeding. As part of this action plan, WABA conceptualise global unifying breastfeeding strategy for promotion. A day was suggested to be marked in an international calendar event. And later the idea of celebrating it on a day was turned into a week.
And it came to be known as World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) which is celebrated from 1-7 August to commemorate the Innocent Declaration. In 1992, the first World Breastfeeding Week was celebrated. Now, it is celebrated in more than 100 countries.
