UNICEF, WHO urge stronger breastfeeding support worldwide

GENEVA and NEW YORK — UNICEF and the World Health Organization urged governments to strengthen breastfeeding support in health facilities, communities, and workplaces, warning that too many mothers still lack the services and protections needed to breastfeed successfully.

The appeal was issued July 31 ahead of World Breastfeeding Week, observed Aug. 1–7, under the theme “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works.”

Breastfeeding rates have improved globally, but progress remains uneven and many countries are still behind international targets, UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell and WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a joint statement.

The gaps matter because breastfeeding can protect children from serious illness, strengthen immunity, and support brain development while reducing mothers’ risks of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and type 2 diabetes.

Stronger breastfeeding programs could also prevent almost 400,000 child deaths and about 140,000 maternal deaths each year, making breastfeeding support a public health intervention with potentially far-reaching benefits for families and health systems.

Breastfeeding rates rise

The proportion of infants exclusively breastfed during their first six months rose from about 37 percent in 2012 to more than 47 percent today.

Over the past five years, the prevalence of breastfeeding up to age 2 increased from 38 percent to 50 percent.

UNICEF and WHO said the gains show that sustained investments in policies and programs for mothers and families can improve breastfeeding practices.

However, service coverage remains low in many countries, breastfeeding policies are not consistently enforced, and the quality of available support is often inadequate.

The shortfalls are particularly serious in low-income countries, fragile states, and humanitarian settings, where mothers may face disrupted health services, displacement, food insecurity, and limited access to trained counselors.

Health benefits for children and mothers

Breast milk provides infants and young children with essential nutrition during a critical period of growth and development.

It also increases immunity and helps protect children against serious illnesses.

Breastfeeding supports cognitive development, which can influence learning, educational attainment, and future opportunities.

For mothers, breastfeeding can help lower the risk of noncommunicable diseases, including breast and ovarian cancers and type 2 diabetes.

These health benefits can reduce pressure on families and health systems by lowering preventable illness and the need for medical care.

Investment brings economic returns

UNICEF and WHO said breastfeeding support is also a cost-effective investment.

Every USD 1 invested in breastfeeding promotion is estimated to generate USD 59 in economic returns.

Those gains come through lower health care costs, improved cognitive development, higher educational attainment, and increased lifetime earnings.

The projected returns suggest that breastfeeding policies can contribute not only to maternal and child health but also to poverty reduction, workforce development, and long-term economic productivity.

Proven support measures

The agencies said effective interventions include skilled breastfeeding support within health systems and community-based counseling for mothers and families.

Maternity protection policies, including paid maternity leave, can give mothers the time and financial security needed to begin and continue breastfeeding.

Supportive workplace policies can help mothers maintain breastfeeding after returning to employment.

UNICEF and WHO also called for stronger protection against the exploitative marketing of commercial milk formulas.

The agencies urged countries to fully implement and enforce the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes, which sets standards intended to prevent inappropriate promotion from undermining breastfeeding.

Six priorities for governments

UNICEF and WHO called on governments to strengthen health systems so mothers and newborns can receive high-quality breastfeeding support.

They urged countries to expand community-based counseling and peer-support programs, which can help families address feeding difficulties and misinformation outside hospitals and clinics.

The agencies called for full implementation and enforcement of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes.

They also urged governments to invest in paid maternity leave and workplace policies that enable women to continue breastfeeding after returning to work.

Breastfeeding interventions should be integrated into antenatal, perinatal, and postnatal health services so support begins during pregnancy and continues after birth.

The agencies said breastfeeding assistance must also be sustained in humanitarian emergencies and fragile settings, where mothers and children face heightened health and nutrition risks.

Support beyond individual choice

The statement emphasized that breastfeeding outcomes depend not only on mothers’ decisions but also on whether health systems, employers, communities, and governments provide effective support.

Mothers may face medical complications, insufficient counseling, workplace constraints, social stigma, and aggressive formula marketing.

Addressing those barriers requires coordinated policies that protect maternal health, household income, infant nutrition, and access to reliable information.

UNICEF and WHO said investments in proven measures can help give every child a healthy start while ensuring that every mother receives the care and services she needs.