The SUN Movement is working with countries across Latin America & the Caribbean to improve maternal and child nutrition. In El Salvador, breastfeeding has been championed to ensure children get the best start in life.

Latin America & the Caribbean:

powering the change for better nutrition.

The Latin America & the Caribbean region is at a critical juncture in its fight against hunger and malnutrition.

By addressing root causes, investing in strategic solutions, and embracing collective efforts, a future free from hunger  and malnutrition is within reach.

Mapping malnutrition in the region

El Salvador
8% of children under 5 years are overweight, while 10% are affected by stunting. 
Global Nutrition Report – El Salvador
View country profile
In Costa Rica 7.5% of infants have low weight at birth.
Global Nutrition Report – Costa Rica
View country profile
Ecuador
More than 1 in 5 children under 2 years suffers from chronic malnutrition.
EU4SUN boosts local support: Ecuador and El Salvador advance child nutrition in line with Sun 3.0 strategy (Section 2.4)
View country profile
Across South America, 3 million
 children under 5 years (9.7%) are overweight or obese.
Latin America and the Caribbean: Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition Statistics and Trends (Section 2.3)
Across Latin America and the Caribbean region, 17.2% of women aged 15 to 49 years are affected by anaemia.
Latin America and the Caribbean: Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition Statistics and Trends (Section 2.4)
Many countries in Latin America and the Caribbean face the triple burden of malnutrition among younger children, in the form of undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and obesity.

Factors that contribute
to food insecurity & malnutrition:

Across the region,
mothers and children under five are the most vulnerable.

To tackle this issue, the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement works with governments, donors, the private sector, civil society, academia and UN agencies.
  
The EU4SUN cooperation project, funded by the European Union and implemented by FIIAPP, provides critical resources to mothers and young children throughout the region.

Turning the tide: signs of progress in the region

Food insecurity on the decline:

Latin America & the Caribbean is the only region globally to achieve a reduction in food insecurity between 2022 and 2023.
Latin America & the Caribbean are the
only region globally to achieve a reduction in food insecurity
between 2022 and 2023.
The percentage of people facing moderate or severe food insecurity dropped from 
 31.4% in 2022 to 28.2% in 2023.
The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) 2024, p12-13
= 20 million
fewer people  experiencing food insecurity.
In spite of this progress, malnutrition remains a concern.
11.5% of children under five years were affected by stunting in 2022.

The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) 2024, (Table A1.1, p.159)
Nearly 30% of the adult population in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region was affected by obesity in 2022.
The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) 2024, (Table A1.1, p.159)

Focus on breastfeeding:
a simple yet powerful solution for malnutrition

Breastfeeding is a foundational pillar in the fight against malnutrition. A mother’s milk is nature’s 100% green solution to provide infants with the ideal blend of nutrients and immune-boosting factors essential for healthy growth and development.

Across the Latin America & the Caribbean region, efforts to increase breastfeeding rates have led to a regional average of 37%.

Regional initiatives fueling progress

Legislative 
Action:


Countries like El Salvador have demonstrated high-level commitment by enforcing laws such as "Crecer Juntos" (Growing Together) and "Amor Convertido en Alimento" (Love Transformed into Food), which protect, promote and support breastfeeding.

Awareness Campaigns:

Public awareness campaigns, such as the “Somos Lecheros” breastfeeding promotion campaign by Peru’s Ministry of Health, are educating families and communities about the benefits of breastfeeding, dispelling myths and fostering a supportive environment.

Community Empowerment:

National training programs equip breastfeeding promoters with the knowledge and skills to provide guidance and support to mothers at the community level.

Baby-Friendly
Hospitals:

The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative encourages hospitals and maternity facilities to adopt practices that promote and support breastfeeding, such as breastfeeding in the first hour.

Workplace Support: 

Policies that support breastfeeding mothers in the workplace, such as paid breastfeeding breaks and access to lactation rooms, are essential for enabling mothers to continue breastfeeding after returning to work.

Peer-to-peer
exchange: 

Policies that support breastfeeding mothers in the workplace, such as paid breastfeeding breaks and access to lactation rooms, are essential for enabling mothers to continue breastfeeding after returning to work.
Case study:

El Salvador

66.8%
*According to national data, SIMMOW report 2023
Infants in El Salvador aged 0 to 5 months who are exclusively breastfed.
8 in 10
Newborns who began breastfeeding in the first hour of life since the institution of the Nacer con Cariño (Born with Love) act in 2021.
$3,647
Estimated household savings in the first year of a child’s life with exclusive and continued breastfeeding.
Within the region, El Salvador stands out for its strong commitment to improving child nutrition and promoting breastfeeding to give children the best start in life.

El Salvador's exclusive breastfeeding rates have already exceeded the 2025 target.
2022 rate
*According to Global Nutrition Report 2022
46.7%
2025 goal
46.5%
The country is working tirelessly to further increase breastfeeding rates by ensuring that all mothers and mothers-to-be are encouraged, empowered and supported to engage in optimal breastfeeding practices.
Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months
Continued complementary breastfeeding up to age 
2 or beyond
This vision is being achieved thanks to strong political will, widespread initiatives for community engagement and empowerment, and the support of partnerships within the private, public and donor sectors. 

Powering change:

the importance of political will

Comment on the role of government policies in promoting early childhood nutrition and breastfeeding.
Personal motivations and experiences that drive her commitment to children's health and nutrition.

Crecer Juntos:

a new national policy to nurture future generations

In 2019, El Salvador introduced the "Crecer Juntos" (“Growing Together”) National Policy to Support Early Childhood Development. 


The policy takes a comprehensive approach, bringing together sectors such as health, nutrition, education, child care, and protection, with the support of international organizations, civil society, and the private sector, to ensure that all Salvadoran children achieve their optimal development potential during early childhood.

This policy led to the signing of three new laws:

1

The Crecer Juntos (Growing Together) act

for the comprehensive protection of early childhood, childhood and adolescence.

Guards the rights of every child to enjoy balanced food and nutrition sufficient for optimal growth and development.
2

The Nacer con Cariño (Born with Love) act

for respectful childbirth and sensitive, loving care for newborns.

Encourages, supports and protects breastfeeding as the primary way to guarantee adequate infant nutrition and food security.
3

The Amor Convertido en Alimento (Love Turned into Food) act

for the promotion, protection and support of breastfeeding.

Guarantees the right of all children to be breastfed within the first hour of life, exclusively for the first six months, and complementarily up to age two or beyond.

Food into love: law into action

El Salvador is enforcing the creation of lactation rooms in workplaces and public spaces, aiming to open 400 breastfeeding rooms by the end of 2024.
Thanks to support from EU4SUN, UNICEF and other SUN Movement partners, more than 1000 breastfeeding counsellors have been trained to educate, equip and support mothers in their breastfeeding journeys.
Voices of change:
sharing the breastfeeding journey in El Salvador
Socioeconomic barriers, knowledge gaps, and cultural influences present significant obstacles to achieving optimal exclusive breastfeeding rates in El Salvador
Engaging communities through targeted education, peer support networks, and culturally sensitive interventions is crucial to dispel myths, empower mothers, and foster supportive environments that enable successful breastfeeding journeys.
For us, breastfeeding support begins during pregnancy, through prenatal education. We start working with and accompanying mothers so they can learn about breastfeeding, the challenges, but above all, the great commitment it can be. Introducing it during the prenatal stage has been very effective because when the time comes to breastfeed, and once you initiate breastfeeding within the first hour of life, it becomes established, leading to more successful experiences.”
Elisa Gamero
Chief of Health and Nutrition of the First Lady's Office, SUN Government Focal Point
Many times these are women who haven't had a formal education, so they sometimes just go by what their grandmothers tell them… They were used to the idea that if the baby wouldn't latch on, they would give them formula, or any type of milk.”
Wendy Escalante
Community Health Worker, Breastfeeding  counsellor
The problem we sometimes have is that we let ourselves be influenced by other people who say, ‘Look, just give them formula, because then if you go out it won't be a problem, you can leave the child.’ So we’re trying to change that so this doesn't happen anymore.”
Laura Vázquez Macín
Community Health Worker

El Salvador’s road to success

El Salvador is on course for global exclusive breastfeeding targets, with 66.8% of infants aged 0 to 6 months exclusively breastfed.
Improvement of breastfeeding rate since new laws were put in place:
45.3%
Encuesta Nacional de Salud
2021
66.8%
Datos
SIMMOW
2023
2030
50%
Encuesta Nacional de Salud
2024
68.0%
Enero- Junio Datos
SIMMOW
2022
62.9%
Datos
SIMMOW
*Change of methology in data collection from Government of El Salvador
When milk is turned into love:
families on the frontlines
Camila Alana was born at 27 weeks…weighing 940 grams…When [the hospital staff] told me about colostrum therapy it was magical for me, to know that a few small drops would make a difference in the treatment of my baby… And she has made significant progress in the few days she has been alive…I feel incredibly happy.”
Andrea Palacios
Mother benefiting from milk bank
We know that the little bit of love we donate helps many children in the hospital…And thanks to our donations, these children are being nourished with the best there is, which is breast milk!”
Karina Elizabeth Cruz Ramos
Mother donating milk
“I’m proud to belong to a country that is making an effort, getting involved with families, providing nourishment and having dedicated spaces to be able to provide quality, protection, safety, and ample places to feed our children.”
Family Avelar

Successful implementation of nutrition policies in El Salvador would not be a reality without key partnerships and cross-sector collaboration.

Turning the tide: signs of progress in the region

El Salvador's commitment to breastfeeding is not just about health: it's about smart economics and long-term benefits across society.

El Salvador understands that prioritizing breastfeeding is not merely a public health initiative – it's a powerful driver of economic, social, and environmental wellbeing.

By increasing society-wide commitment to breastfeeding, the nation is building a healthier, more resilient, more productive workforce.

Increased breastfeeding rates also mean less reliance on breastmilk substitutes, which reduces financial and climate impacts.

By investing in the best natural source of nutrition in the first 1000 days of life, El Salvador is investing in a brighter future for all its citizens
It truly benefits families economically, emotionally, and psychologically. Economically, because breastfeeding is completely free...Emotionally, because it strengthens the bond between mother and baby, fostering a loving environment within the family and beyond. And psychologically, it provides a sense of well-being for everyone involved.”
Dr. Grecia Garcia
Global Services Clinic
We've seen a significant decrease in expenses related to breast milk substitutes... Between 2021 and 2022, we reduced spending by approximately $6,000. And so far in 2023, we've already saved between $10,000 and $11,000.”
Dr. Ricardo Ernesto Salazar
Hospital Directore
We know that our country’s most important resource is our people. So from birth, if we take care of their health, through nutrition, avoiding illnesses later on, this will generate resources for the private company many years from now…these children will become young people and adults who benefit society.”
Xiomara Osorio
Manager of the Mall "La Joya":

Nourishing
a brighter future

El Salvador's journey illuminates a path forward for the entire region.

By embracing similar commitments and investing in proven solutions, other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean can chart their own course for nourishing healthier, thriving communities in a world free from hunger.
It will be fascinating to observe the positive impact of breastfeeding on our economy, the strengthening of emotional bonds, and the enrichment of our cultural development. I am hopeful that present and future generations of Salvadorans will harness their full potential as individuals and as a society, embracing the power of love within their families and for our nation.”
Dr. Francisco Alabi
Minister of Health
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