World Breastfeeding Week

World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) is an annual celebration of the role of breastfeeding in our homes, our communities, and the world.  World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated globally every year from 1 to 7 August to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world.

The World Breastfeeding Week 2016 theme is on raising awareness of the links between breastfeeding and the Sustainable Development Goals. By recognizing that breastfeeding is a key to sustainable development, we will value our wellbeing from the start of life, respect each other and care for the world we share. As a part of the theme, Breastfeeding: A Key to Sustainable Development, PSM India is taking huge steps towards creating awareness about the best practices around breastfeeding. It’s a life saver for infants and safeguards them from malnutrition.

Breastfeeding is the best way to provide infants with the nutrients they need. WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding starting within one hour after birth until a baby is 6 months old. Nutritious complementary foods should then be added while continuing to breastfeed for up to 2 years or beyond.

In India, as nuclear families become the normal model of lifestyle, the responsibility of the father increases in every aspect of child rearing. He is the most constant companion around the new mother during the pre and post natal period. WHO is encouraging people to “Support mums to breastfeed anytime, anywhere,” as all of society has a role to play in making our communities more breastfeeding-friendly.

And among the most important initiatives during infancy is breastfeeding. "A father can help a breastfeeding mother in many ways. He can take care of the older children, manage the household and provide care for his wife. These can ease a woman's stress and help her breastfeed their child successfully. Introduction of solid food to the baby can start after 6 months and a father can further provide the complementary feeding to his baby," says Revathi, coordinator, maternity/parental protection campaign & gender, World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA). 

We believe knowledge guides our practice, strengthens our value, and supports our role in transforming world health.

According to WHO; it is clear that breastfeeding is not only the cornerstone of a child’s health development; it is also the foundation of a country’s development. In fact, supporting breastfeeding is one of the smartest investments countries can make in the wellbeing of their citizens and thus, in their own long-term strength.