World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from 1 to 7 August to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world. It began in 1991, coined by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA). The aim was to promote the exclusive breastfeeding of children for the first six months of life.
The 2019 theme for World Breastfeeding Week is “The special mother-child bond with innumerable benefits.”
Breastfeeding is a universal solution that gives everyone a fair start in life, and lays the foundation for good health. It is the best way to provide infants with the nutrients they need. WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding starting within one hour after birth until a baby is 6 months old. Nutritious complementary foods should then be added while continuing to breastfeed for up to 2 years or beyond.
Exclusive breastfeeding levels remain low across Africa. According to UNICEF, West Africa has one of the lowest rates in the world, with countries such as Chad recording 2% and Côte d’Ivoire 4%.
Here are Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding offered by WHO. Follow link to download