Following a recent study which shed light on the incredible benefits of breastfeeding for even just a short period, the WHO has urged governments around the world to make breastfeeding a policy priority in their national development plans.
With just 38% of infants being breastfed exclusively for the first six months of their lives, the WHO has set a global target to bring that figure up to 50% by 2025.
In a joint statement, WHO’s director-general Margaret Chan and UNICEF’s executive director Anthony Lake said: “To achieve this ambitious and very important goal, we need to tackle all the barriers to breastfeeding.”
Singling out the role of governments, they added: “Governments should lead the charge by making breastfeeding a policy priority in national development plans, increasing resources for programming that supports breastfeeding, and working with communities and families to promote the full benefits of breastfeeding.”
Mums all over the world have been making strong statements throughout World Breastfeeding Week, encouraging and supporting others who are nursing little ones.
