Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a child's life is the best and most cost-effective intervention to provide newborns with the nutrients they need, and to improve infant and children survival rates.
On the occasion of World Breastfeeding Week 2008 (August 1-7), national and international health experts emphasize that no gift is more precious than breastfeeding, yet barely one in three infants is exclusively breastfeed during the first six months of life. Because of it's proximity with the Olympic Games in China, this year's World Breastfeeding Week theme is "going for the gold by supporting mothers to breastfeed".
Every year, as much as 55% of infant deaths from diarrheal disease and acute respiratory infections may be the result of inappropriate feeding practices. Further more, health officials from the Pan American Health Organization say that complementary feeding practices are frequently ill-timed, inappropriate and unsafe.
PAHO's Director reiterated that adequate nutrition, particularly during the first year of life, is a key, contributing factor for infants to better develop all their human potential. That is why, Dr. Mirta Roses said, it is imperative to keep working in doing all we can to stimulate optimal support conditions for all mothers while highlighting the fundamental benefits of breastfeeding for the health of both mothers and the newborn.
While there are encouraging trends in breastfeeding rates in a few countries, global data show that less than 40 per cent of infants under six months of age are exclusively breastfed today. This underachievement in turn contributes to the unnecessary deaths of over a million children each year, said Dr. Margaret Chan, Director of the World Health Organization (WHO). Dr. Chan also said that these are lives that could be saved if mothers and families were adequately encouraged and supported to breastfeed.
"Rapid improvements can be achieved if a breastfeeding culture once again permeates all levels of society", Dr. Chan said.
Event in Honduras