UN Urges Countries to Promote Breastfeeding

On Monday, the United Nations officials marked the annual World Breastfeeding Week and called countries to promote breastfeeding by making it a priority in developmental plans. In a joint statement, heads of the UN Children’s Fund, Anthony Lake, and the World Health Organization, Margaret Chan highlighted the benefits of breastfeeding. “We know that breastfeeding helps children to survive and thrive – enabling infants to withstand infections, providing critical nutrients for the early development of their brains and bodies, and strengthening the bond between mothers and their babies,” they said. “And the benefits of breastfeeding last a lifetime.” Pointing out to a recent study that was published in Lancet, the report said: “Infants who were breastfed for at least one year went on to stay in school longer, score higher on intelligence tests and earn more as adults than those who were breastfed for only a month.”