World Breastfeeding Week 2022 is celebrated from August 1 to 7, whose motto this year is Let’s Promote Breastfeeding: Supporting and Educating, with the aim that all those involved participate in its promotion.
Breastfeeding is everyone’s business , not just the breastfeeding mother and her baby, which is why this year the SMLM wants to focus on strengthening the capacity of the actors who have to protect, promote and support breastfeeding at different levels of the society.
Breastfeeding in a post-pandemic world
In an environment where the Covid-19 pandemic and geopolitical conflicts have widened and deepened inequalities, leading more people to food insecurity, the WHO highlights that breast milk is perfectly designed for the nutritional and immunological needs of the child and the girl and helps prevent infections.
Breastfeeding promotes the bond between the mother and her baby, regardless of the environment, and provides food security to the baby, from the beginning of his life, contributing to the food security of the whole family.
Chain of support for breastfeeding
Breastfeeding support involves many actors and levels. Women need the support of health services, workplaces and the community to breastfeed optimally.
Education and transformation of existing systems, supported by evidence-based national policies, will help ensure breastfeeding-friendly health facilities, supportive communities and workplaces, and restore and improve breastfeeding rates, nutrition and health, both short and long term.
Governments, health systems, workplaces and communities must be informed, educated and empowered to strengthen their capacities to provide and sustain breastfeeding-friendly environments for families in the post-pandemic world , says WHO.
Breastfeeding, the best start
The WHO continues to recommend that standard infant feeding guidelines be adhered to:
- The importance of the first hour of life : initiation of breastfeeding within one hour after birth.
- Six months of exclusive breastfeeding: Exclusive breastfeeding until babies are six months old.
- Then, along with complementary feeding : continuation of breastfeeding along with nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods, until two years of age or beyond.
Objectives of the SMLM 2022
- Inform people of their role in strengthening the effective chain to support breastfeeding.
- Establish breastfeeding as part of good nutrition, food security and reduction of inequalities.
- Interact with people and organizations throughout the effective chain of support for breastfeeding.
- Influence action to strengthen the capacity of actors and systems for transformative change.
