‘Sharing the responsibility’ for protecting breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is one of the best investments for saving lives and for the socioeconomic development of a nation. It significantly improves the wellbeing of both the children and their mothers. Optimal breastfeeding is vital to their lifelong good health and wellbeing.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF recommends - an early initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of birth, exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life, continued breastfeeding up to two years of age, with introduction of locally available, nutritionally adequate and safe complementary (solid) food at six months.

Breastfeeding helps babies get the best start in their life and helps children reach their full potential for health and growth. Family members can work together as a team and play a vital part in providing daily support to protect a sustainable breast feeding. The employers can arrange supportive environment (e.g. breastfeeding corners) in the workplaces for the working mothers to continue breastfeeding and employment successfully.

'World Breastfeeding Week' (WBW) is a global campaign coordinated by World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA). The aim of this campaign is to raise awareness on breastfeeding, to inform, anchor, engage and galvanise action on breastfeeding and related issues. Since 1992 it has been celebrated over 1-7 August every year and is now observed over 120 countries.

The campaign brings stakeholders together from diverse sectors to achieve the common goals and provides up-to-date information to the celebrants to take action to encourage their activities. Breastfeeding has been found to be linked to all 17 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and now it is better called as the 'WBW-SDGs Campaign'.

The theme of WBW of this year is "Protect Breastfeeding: A Shared Responsibility," with a focus on how breastfeeding contributes to the survival, health and wellbeing of everyone and the importance of protecting breastfeeding worldwide.

The theme emphasises that we all have a responsibility to support breastfeeding and reminds that sustainable changes can be brought through working together.

Objectives of WBW 2021 are to inform people about the importance of protecting breastfeeding, anchor breastfeeding support as a vital public health responsibility, engage with individuals and organisations for greater impact and to galvanise action on protecting breastfeeding to improve public health.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, access of the families for the essential services like- breastfeeding counselling through facilities and home visits, as well as the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative have been disrupted. The ongoing pandemic has taken a toll on the parenting experiences especially for the low socioeconomic groups. Stakeholders need to encourage new and innovative approaches and scale up their investments to protect and support breastfeeding.

It is a shared responsibility to protect, promote and support breastfeeding to achieve sustainable development. World Breastfeeding Week is a vibrant global movement to connect the power of global actions together.

Dr Abdullahel Amaan is a Resident at the Department of Neonatology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Bangladesh. E-mail: abdullahelamaan@gmail.com

Dr Khainoor Zahan is a Deputy Director at the Bangladesh National Nutrition Council (BNNC), Bangladesh. E-mail: khainoorzahan@gmail.com