Breastfeeding Week Highlights Policy Gaps and Progress

World Breastfeeding Week, observed annually during the first week of August, draws global attention to breastfeeding as a crucial foundation for lifelong health, development, and equity. Led by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, Ministries of Health, and civil society partners, this year’s campaign emphasizes the ongoing support women and babies require throughout the breastfeeding journey.

This year’s theme, part of WHO’s Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures initiative, underscores that breastfeeding is not only a health imperative but also an economic one. According to Catherine Russell, Executive Director, UNICEF, “Investing in breastfeeding is not only the right thing to do; it is smart economics,” cites MBN. 

Global estimates show that 44 percent of infants under six months are exclusively breastfed. WHO reports that optimal breastfeeding could prevent over 820,000 child deaths annually. Breastfeeding improves IQ, reduces obesity risk, lowers health costs, and increases productivity in adulthood. Despite these benefits, many countries still fall short in providing the structural and policy support needed to enable mothers to breastfeed optimally.

Yet, global child malnutrition remains a challenge. According to the 2025 UNICEF-WHO-World Bank Joint Child Malnutrition Estimates report, efforts to reduce stunting and other forms of malnutrition are off track, with the world expected to miss the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal target by 46 million children. Promoting breastfeeding is a key strategy in reversing these trends by improving nutrition early in life.

World Breastfeeding Week also highlights the role of healthcare systems in supporting mothers. This year’s campaign focuses on strengthening access to professional counseling and protecting breastfeeding through policy enforcement. Evidence shows that when mothers receive consistent support, breastfeeding rates improve significantly, directly benefiting infant survival and development.

In Mexico, national efforts are aligning with global priorities. The Ministry of Health recently enacted NOM-020-SSA-2025, a regulation that formally integrates midwifery into the health system. The policy recognizes both professional and traditional midwives, allowing them to provide maternal and neonatal care without requiring certification. The regulation includes new midwifery-led birthing centers, and authorizes midwives to prescribe basic medications and issue birth certificates. 

To improve outcomes, WHO urges countries to implement proven interventions, including maternity leave policies, regulation of breast milk substitute marketing, and the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative’s “Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding.” These include skin-to-skin contact at birth, rooming-in, and breastfeeding counseling integrated into routine care. The organization also advocates for training health workers, strengthening data collection, and supporting HIV-positive mothers with antiretroviral therapy to enable safe breastfeeding..