“The best thing a mother can do for her newborn is breastfeed,” said the UN Friday, “which does more than help children survive–it helps them to thrive with benefits that last a lifetime.” The executive director of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Anthony Lake, made the statement, urging promotion of breastfeeding everywhere.
“Immediate breastfeeding within the first hour of birth could prevent one in five unnecessary deaths,” said Lake, kicking off World Breastfeeding Week. “That’s more than 500,000 children every year. More than 1,500 children every day.”
Fewer than half the world’s newborns benefit from breastfeeding, said the UN. Even fewer are exclusively breastfed for the first six months.
“Breastfeeding is the foundation of good nutrition,” said Lake, “reducing the risk of malnourishment in early childhood and the risk of obesity later in life. By supporting nutrition and strengthening the bond between mother and child, breastfeeding also supports healthy brain development.”
World Breastfeeding Week takes place between August 1 and 7. This year the celebration will highlight the link between breastfeeding and Millennium Development Goals, particularly decreasing child mortality.
By Day Blakely Donaldson