The 2015 World Breastfeeding Week across the SUN Movement

From 1 – 7 August 2015, thousands rallied around the world to protect, promote and support breastfeeding behind the theme “Breastfeeding and Work – Let’s make it work!”. The World Breastfeeding Week is held each year as a commemoration of the Innocenti Declaration made by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF in 1990 to protect and support breastfeeding. The week is coordinated at a global level by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) and is part of the Global Breastfeeding Initiative for Child Survival (gBICS).

The hashtag #WBW2015 was used on Twitter to capture efforts around the world.

Highlights from the 2015 World Breastfeeding Week across SUN Countries and Networks

• Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina shares a message on the eve of WBW2015
• A University Forum in Cambodia reviews enforcement of breastfeeding legislation and policy
• GAIN and Devex hold a Q&A twitter session during the occasion of WBW2015
• A media launch is held and a petition is shared in Ghana for WBW2015
• Indonesia launches “Breastmilk is enough” campaign with GAIN during WBW2015
• Safaricom Kenya hosts a high level multi-stakeholder event for WBW2015
• The Queen of Lesotho speaks during WBW2015 as she continues her role as the country’s patron for breastfeeding
• Nepal’s Civil Society Alliance holds an Interaction Program for WBW2015
• New video’s launched during WBW2015 promote breastfeeding in Niger
• Nigeria’s First Lady and the Ministry of Health call for workplaces to support breastfeeding mothers
• Paediatricians in Pakistan call for more breastfeeding laws to safeguard children from malnutrition
• Peru’s Ministry of Health adopts a “Guide to Breastfeeding Counselling” during WBW2015
• The Philippines celebrates WBW2015 by hosting a conference and beating their own world record for mass breastfeeding
• United Nations agencies unite to develop useful resources for WBW2015
• United Nations Foundation webinar shares stories from the private sector about breastfeeding support
• Mothers set a domestic record for mass breastfeeding in Vietnam during WBW2015
• Zambia’s Vice President, the Minister of Health and civil society support WBW2015
• Zimbabwe’s Civil Society Alliance plans a full week of activity to promote WBW2015

According to WHO, only 38% of infants are exclusively breastfed and sub-optimal breastfeeding contributes to 800,000 infant deaths. Increasing the rate of exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months to 50% is a maternal, infant and young child nutrition target of the World Health Assembly. WHO member states have committed to monitor act and catalyse global change to achieve this target by 2025. Breastfeeding is recognised as a high impact intervention that aids healthy growth, reduces the prevalence of stunting and helps to protect infants from obesity and non-communicable diseases.

Recognising that global action is required, the World Breastfeeding Week is embraced by more people each year. Celebrations are being organised to suit different country and community contexts and people are also taking the moment to recognise the progress made and work that still needs to be done to protect, promote and support breastfeeding.

Alive & Thrive and UNICEF created this animated video to show the benefits of creating a dedicated lactation space for moms in the workplace!

Find out more about WABA, and download more resources: WABA