In collaboration with UNICEF, Minister of Health and Population Egypt's Khaled Abdel Ghaffar launched the fourth edition of the World Breastfeeding conference on Sunday.
The conference running from 12 to 14 March, is organized by the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) Arab World and sponsored by WHO, WFP, the Egyptian Lactation Consultants Association, and Sharjah Child-Friendly Office.
It also brings together all supporting partners concerned about maternal and child health and nutrition, according to UNICEF.
In her remarks, UNICEF Executive Director, Catherine Russel said: “No matter where in the world children are born, breastfeeding gives them the best start in life. It helps to protect babies from common infectious diseases, which can be life-threatening. Breastfeeding also boosts children’s immune systems and reduces the risk of obesity and diabetes. And it provides children with the nutrients their growing bodies and brains need to develop to their full potential."
She continued: “According to UNICEF and WHO, the share of infants under six months of age who are exclusively breastfed has reached 48 percent. This is a 10 percent increase from a decade ago and nearly meets the World Health Assembly target of 50 percent by 2025."
“However, in 2021, less than half of new-born babies were breastfed in the first hour of life … donor funding for supportive programs remains inadequate … only 10 percent of countries globally provide the recommended standard of 18 weeks of maternity leave with full pay … and only 20 percent of countries legislate mandatory provision of paid breaks and nursing facilities," she noted.
“UNICEF is urging governments, donors, and civil society partners to strengthen efforts to promote, protect and support breastfeeding. These efforts should include increasing investment in services for mothers, equipping health and nutrition workers with the education, training, and skills needed to provide practical breastfeeding support … and implementing family-friendly policies so that mothers have the time and space they need to breastfeed – no matter where they are.”
It is worth mentioning that, UNICEF is supporting the attendance of 100 Egyptian advocates of breastfeeding and decision-makers from both government and civil society during the conference to support raising the capacity of healthcare workers and to help mothers breastfeed their children.
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