Investment in breastfeeding too low globally —WHO

UNICEF and WHO in collaboration with the Global Breastfeeding Collective, a new initiative to increase global breastfeeding rates, has said that no country in the world fully meets recommended standards for breastfeeding.

The Global Breastfeeding Scorecard, which evaluated 194 nations, found that only 40 per cent of children younger than six months are breastfed exclusively (given nothing but breastmilk) and only 23 countries have exclusive breastfeeding rates above 60 per cent.

In a new release, the bodies said that evidence shows that breastfeeding has cognitive and health benefits for both infants and their mothers.

According to them breastfeeding is especially critical during the first six months of life, helping  to prevent diarrhoea and pneumonia, two major causes of death in infants, adding that mothers who breastfeed have a reduced risk of ovarian and breast cancer, two leading causes of death among women.

Director-General of WHO, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, stated “Breastfeeding gives babies the best possible start in life. Breastmilk works like a baby’s first vaccine, protecting infants from potentially deadly diseases and giving them all the nourishment they need to survive and thrive.”

The scorecard was released at the start of World Breastfeeding Week alongside a new analysis demonstrating that an annual investment of only US$4.70 per newborn is required to increase the global rate of exclusive breastfeeding among children under six months to 50 per cent by 2025.

Nurturing the Health and Wealth of Nations: The Investment Case for Breastfeeding, suggests that meeting this target could save the lives of 520,000 children under the age of five and potentially generate US$300 billion in economic gains over 10 years, as a result of reduced illness and health care costs and increased productivity.

UNICEF Executive Director, Anthony Lake, said “Breastfeeding is one of the most effective—and cost effective—investments nations can make in the health of their youngest members and the future health of their economies and societies.”

He added, “By failing to invest in breastfeeding, we are failing mothers and their babies—and paying a double price: in lost lives and in lost opportunity.”

The investment case shows that in five of the world’s largest emerging economies—China, India, Indonesia, Mexico and Nigeria—the lack of investment in breastfeeding results in an estimated 236,000 child deaths per year and US$119 billion in economic losses.

Globally, investment in breastfeeding is far too low. Each year, governments in lower- and middle-income countries spend approximately US $250 million on breastfeeding promotion; and donors provide only an additional US$85 million.

Among other things, the Global Breastfeeding Collective is calling on countries to increase funding to raise breastfeeding rates from birth through two years, fully implement the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes, and the 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding in maternity facilities.