World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated annually in the first week of August (from 1st of August to 7th of August) around 120 countries in the World. The day is celebrated to encourage breastfeeding and improve the babies’ health around the world.
The theme for the year 2020 is, “Support Breast feeding for a healthier planet”.
History
i.The day was commenced after signing the Innocenti Declaration in August 1990.
ii.The global campaigning was first organized by the WABA (World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action) along with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in 1992, to raise awareness about the benefits of breastfeeding for the initial 6 months of a child’s life.
Significance of Breastfeeding:
i.Breast milk is the best source of nutrition for a mother and a child.
ii.It can protect babies against infections and reduce the rates of later health problems like diabetes, obesity, and asthma.
iii.Breastfeeding could save the lives of around 820,000 children every year via generating the US $302 billion in additional income.
Key info about WABA:
i.The WABA was formed on February 14, 1991, after the Innocenti Declaration and its aim is to re-introduce the culture of breastfeeding around the world.
ii.The WABA is aligned with the Sustainable Development goals (SDGs) since 2016.
iii.In 2018, the World Health Assembly resolution endorsed WBW (World Breastfeeding Week) as an important breastfeeding promotion.
iv.The theme of WABA for the year 2020, is aligned with thematic area 3 in the WBW-SDG 2030 campaign which highlights the links between breastfeeding and the environment and climate change.
v.WABA is applying the ‘warm chain’ approach to empower women from all sectors of the world to unite and work towards the singular goal of protecting the environment.
Five reasons to join Governments:
The UNICEF-WHO-led Global Breastfeeding joins governments of various countries for five reasons: Invest, Train, Ensure, Partner, Protect.
Recent Related News:
i.Global Day of Parents is celebrated every year on June 1 globally. The day was organized by the United Nations (UN) to emphasize the critical role that the family has the primary responsibility for the nurturing and protection of children.
ii.On 7th June 2020, The Second World Food Safety Day was celebrated to promote actions that support food security, human health, agriculture and sustainable development and prevent, detect and manage foodborne diseases. The First World Food Safety Day was celebrated on 7th June 2019.
About WABA
Headquarters – Penang, Malaysia
Chairperson – Felicity Savage
About UNICEF
Headquarters – New York, United States
Executive Director – Henrietta H. Fore
