UNICEF and WHO Call for Increased Investment in Health Systems to Support Breastfeeding Mothers

Bissau, 7 August 2025 – Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure the health, development, and survival of a child in the earliest stages of life. It serves as a baby’s first vaccine, protecting against common illnesses such as diarrhea and pneumonia.

Despite its proven benefits, only 48% of infants under six months are exclusively breastfed—well below the 60% target set by the World Health Assembly for 2030. This gap reflects the challenges faced by mothers, healthcare professionals, and health systems worldwide.

WHO and UNICEF acknowledge the significant progress made by Guinea-Bissau in promoting, protecting, and supporting breastfeeding, as demonstrated by:

• An increase in the exclusive breastfeeding rate to 59% (MICS 2019);
• The extension of maternity leave from 60 to 90 days and the introduction of 15 days of paternity leave;
• Support for the implementation of the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding.

In Guinea-Bissau, raising breastfeeding rates above 60% could protect approximately 10,596 children annually from diarrhea and acute respiratory infections.

Globally, millions of mothers do not receive qualified and timely support in health services, precisely when they need it most.
Only 20% of countries include infant feeding education in the curricula for doctors and nurses. As a result, most mothers leave health facilities without adequate guidance on how to breastfeed or when to introduce complementary feeding.

In many countries, health systems remain underfunded, fragmented, and ill-equipped to provide consistent, evidence-based support.
Yet, every dollar invested by the State in breastfeeding yields an estimated economic return of 35 dollars—equivalent to approximately 21,194.65 CFA francs.

Under the theme “Prioritize Breastfeeding: Build Sustainable Support Systems,” WHO and UNICEF urge governments, health authorities, and partners to:

• Ensure adequate investment in equitable and quality maternal and neonatal care, including breastfeeding support services;
• Increase national budget allocations for breastfeeding programs;
• Integrate breastfeeding counseling into routine maternal and child health services, including prenatal, delivery, and post-natal care;
• Ensure that all healthcare professionals possess the necessary skills and knowledge to support breastfeeding, including in humanitarian and emergency contexts;
• Strengthen community health systems to provide continuous support to mothers for up to two years or beyond;
• Enforce the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes across all health facilities and systems.

Supporting breastfeeding is not only a public health priority, it is a moral responsibility and an economic imperative. WHO and UNICEF reaffirm their commitment to helping countries build resilient health systems that leave no mother or child behind.