Beyond World Breastfeeding Week 2026, WHO and UNICEF call for strengthened action to protect, promote and support breastfeeding

DHAKA, August 11, 2026 —Breastfeeding gives every child the healthiest and most sustainable start in life. It provides all the nutrients an infant needs during the first six months of life, protects against infectious diseases, strengthens the immune system, and supports healthy growth and brain development. It also benefits mothers by reducing the risk of non-communicable diseases such as breast and ovarian cancers and type 2 diabetes, while contributing to healthier families, stronger communities, and more resilient societies. 

This World Breastfeeding Week comes at a critical time for Bangladesh. New findings from the Bangladesh Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2025 indicate that progress in breastfeeding has slowed. The proportion of infants under six months of age who are exclusively breastfed declined from 62.6 per cent in 2019 to 56.6 per cent in 2025, while early initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of birth fell from 46.6 per cent to 30.4 per cent. These findings underscore the urgent need to strengthen support for mothers and families to ensure that every child benefits from the best possible start in life.

Behind these figures are mothers who need greater support. While breastfeeding is a natural act, it is not always easy. Too many mothers still lack the counselling, encouragement, and practical support they need during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period. Many return to work without adequate maternity protection or access to breastfeeding-friendly workplaces, while families continue to be exposed to inappropriate marketing of breast-milk substitutes. These barriers are often even greater in emergency and humanitarian settings. 

This is why this year's World Breastfeeding Week theme, "Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works," is especially timely. The solutions are already known. Strong health systems, skilled health workers, effective community support, the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, maternity protection, breastfeeding-friendly workplaces, and the full implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes have all been proven to improve breastfeeding outcomes. Every US$1 invested in breastfeeding generates an estimated US$59 in economic returns through lower healthcare costs, improved cognitive development, higher educational attainment and increased lifetime earnings.

The challenge is not to reinvent solutions, but to scale up and sustain those that already work, ensuring that every mother receives the support she needs and every child can benefit from breastfeeding. 

To achieve this, on and beyond World Breastfeeding Week 2026, WHO and UNICEF call on governments, the private sector, development partners, health professionals, employers and communities to strengthen proven actions that support breastfeeding. Every health worker should have the knowledge and skills to protect, promote and support breastfeeding. The Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative should be expanded across both public and private health facilities, supported by strong accountability mechanisms and community engagement. Working mothers need better maternity protection, including paid leave, breastfeeding breaks and breastfeeding-friendly workplaces. The International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes must be fully enforced, including measures to prevent inappropriate digital and social media marketing. Breastfeeding support should be integrated into health, nutrition and social protection programmes to ensure that every mother, especially those most vulnerable, receives the support she needs. Stronger data, monitoring and research are also needed to track progress and guide evidence-based action.

Protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding is one of the smartest investments Bangladesh can make in its children. It saves lives, improves health and nutrition, strengthens learning and human capital, and contributes to sustainable development.  Every child has the right to the best possible start in life, and every mother deserves the support she needs to breastfeed successfully.

UNICEF and WHO in Bangladesh remain committed to working closely with the Government of Bangladesh and partners to turn this vision into reality. Together, we will continue to strengthen health systems, empower families, and create an enabling environment where every mother can breastfeed and every child can survive, grow and thrive. 

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