Support for all breastfeeding moms

World Breastfeeding Week, celebrated in the first week of August, is supported by WHO, UNICEF, and numerous health ministries and civil society partners. The theme for 2024 is "Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All."

This campaign aims to celebrate the diversity of breastfeeding moms throughout their journeys, showcasing how families, communities, and health workers can support them. This year, the focus is on recognising breastfeeding moms, ensuring they are seen and heard, and sharing relatable experiences about the importance of multi-level support, including:

• Creating a societal environment that values women and breastfeeding.

• Establishing a women- and breastfeeding-friendly healthcare system.

• Respecting women's right to breastfeed anytime, anywhere.

• Offering robust community support.

Key messages for this year's campaign include:

• Appreciation and support: Let us appreciate breastfeeding moms and ensure they get the support they need.

• Diverse forms of support: Support ranges from staff welcoming breastfeeding in local cafés to maternity protections from governments.

• Rights and protections: Women everywhere have the right to respectful breastfeeding counselling and supportive laws and policies.

• Normalisation and advocacy: We can help ensure women feel able to breastfeed anytime, anywhere, and work to improve their position at home, work, and public life.

Join the campaign from 1 to 7 August with the hashtags #WorldBreastfeedingWeek and #TogetherForMoms, and let us work together to support breastfeeding moms everywhere.

Source: World Health Organisation