- The WBW also commemorates the signing of the Innocenti Declaration in August 1990 in Florence, Italy.
- The theme of World Breastfeeding Week chosen by WABA is “Protect Breastfeeding: A Shared Responsibility”.
- This is in line with 2 thematic areas of the WBW Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2030 campaign which highlights the relation between breastfeeding and survival, health and wellbeing of women, children and nations.
Innocenti Declaration:
The Innocenti Declaration was signed by government policymakers, World Health Organisation(WHO), United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund(UNICEF)and other organisations to protect, promote and support breastfeeding.
Background:
i.The World Breastfeeding Week is a global campaign of WABA organised in collaboration with the WHO and UNICEF.
ii.World Breastfeeding Week was first observed in 1992.
World Breastfeeding Week Campaign 2021:
i.The annual WBW campaign is coordinated by the WABA.
ii.WBW has been aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) since 2016, which is known as the WBW-SDGs Campaign.
iii.The World Health Assembly(WHA) resolution in 2018, endorsed WBW as an important breastfeeding promotion strategy.
Aim:
To create awareness and highlight the action on the themes related to breastfeeding.
Objectives of the 2021 campaign:
- To create awareness about the importance of protecting breastfeeding
- To highlight breastfeeding support as a major public health responsibility
- To engage with individuals and organisations to create greater impacts
- To initiate the actions on protecting breastfeeding to improve public health.
Efforts to promote breastfeeding:
i.The WHO is committed to support the implementation of the “Comprehensive implementation plan on maternal, infant and young child nutrition”.
ii.The plan includes 6 targets, one of which is to increase the rate of exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months up to at least 50% by 2025.
About World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action(WABA):
Chairperson– Felicity Savage
Executive Director– Amal Omer Salim
Headquarters– Penang, Malaysia