The World Health Organisation (WHO) and global health partners have officially launched World Breastfeeding Week 2026, running from August 1 to 7 under the theme “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works.”
This year’s campaign focuses on scaling up proven strategies to improve infant feeding outcomes worldwide. Recent data reveals that global exclusive breastfeeding rates for infants under six months have reached 48%, closing in on the World Health Assembly’s global target of 50%.
To maintain this momentum, health authorities have highlighted five key evidence-based interventions: access to skilled community and facility-based counselling, clinical care standards under the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, enforced paid maternity leave in low- and middle-income nations, strict regulation of infant formula marketing, and integrated mass media campaigns.
Health leaders highlight that while global progress is accelerating, closing remaining disparities will require governments and civil society to invest heavily in sustainable support networks for mothers.
–Channel Africa/WHO–
