
Across the world, 120 countries celebrate World Breastfeeding Week every year from 1 to 7 August to persuade breastfeeding for improving the health of babies around the world. WHO and UNICEF policy-makers shaped the Innocenti Declaration in August 1990 to protect, promote and support breastfeeding. World Breastfeeding Week is endorsed by UNICEF, WHO and FAO.
According to WHO a baby should be breastfeed until he/she is six months old, and should be continued along with the additional nutritious complementary foods up to two years or beyond.
Objectives of World Breastfeeding Week
• The entire week dedicate attention to the imperative role that breastfeeding plays in global crisis.
• WBW lays stress on the need for dynamic defense and support of breastfeeding before and during emergencies.
• World Breastfeeding Week is a good time to inform mothers, breastfeeding advocates, communities, health professionals, governments, aid agencies, patrons, and the media on how they can contribute their support to breastfeeding before and during a disaster.
• WBW marshal action and foster networking and alliance between the people skilled in breastfeeding and those involved in emergency response.