World Breastfeeding Week, celebrated annually during 1^st – 7^th August aims to highlight the benefits of breastfeeding. This event is organised every year by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), a global network that aims to protect, promote and support breastfeeding around the world.

Breastfeeding provides all the nutrition a baby needs for the first six months and also helps build a strong emotional bond between a mum and her baby. Breast milk also helps boost a baby’s ability to fight illness and infection by passing on the mother’s immune defences. 

Optimal breastfeeding is vital to the lifelong good health and well-being of women and children.

World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends:

• Early initiation of breastfeeding within 1 hour of birth.
• Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life.
• Continued breastfeeding up to 2 years of age or beyond, with introduction of nutritionally adequate and safe complementary (solid) foods at 6 months.

For more information on breastfeeding and weaning, click here.