The theme for this year’s World Breastfeeding Week (1-7th August 2024) is “Closing the gap: Breastfeeding support for all” , celebrating breastfeeding mothers while showcasing the ways families, societies, communities and health workers can support them.
WHO South-East Asia Region has chosen to focus on health system and worker support for breastfeeding mothers during the 2024 breastfeeding week and beyond. The health system provides counseling and advise to mothers during the ante natal care period on preparation for breastfeeding, providing lactation support soon after birth through implementing the Ten Steps to breastfeeding, and follow-up after discharge from the facility.
Facility based support measures for breastfeeding are most effective when integrated with other healthcare improvement initiatives, health systems strengthening, and quality assurance programmes. This requires coordination between the relevant departments, capacity development of the staff and inclusion of breastfeeding support as a routine component of maternal and newborn care.
We kickstart the Week with a webinar: Scaling up breastfeeding in facilities for maternity & newborn services through national programmes on the 1st August 2024.
