World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) is an annual celebration which is held every year in the first week of August. The annual Global Awareness Week is celebrated annually from August 1 to August 7 in more than 120 countries.  Organised by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, this week aims to raise awareness and promote the benefits of breastfeeding for both infants and mothers. The weeklong events emphasise the importance of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life to provide optimal nutrition and health benefits to infants. August is also National Breastfeeding Awareness Month in the United States.

Each year, World Breastfeeding Week focuses on a specific theme to highlight various aspects of breastfeeding and its importance to public health. The World Breastfeeding Week 2024 theme is 'Closing the gap: Breastfeeding support for all.' Let us know more about World Breastfeeding Week 2024 dates, this year's theme, the history, significance of the global event and more.

World Breastfeeding Week 2024 Dates

World Breastfeeding Week 2024 will start from August 1 to August 5.

World Breastfeeding Week 2024 Theme

World Breastfeeding Week 2024 theme is 'Closing the gap: Breastfeeding support for all.'

World Breastfeeding Week History

World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from August 1 to August 7 in commemoration of the 1990 Innocenti Declaration. World Breastfeeding Week was first celebrated in 1992 by WABA and is now observed in over 120 countries by UNICEF, WHO and their partners, including individuals, organisations, and governments. WABA itself was formed on February 14, 1991, with the goal to re-establish a global breastfeeding culture and provide support for breastfeeding everywhere. Since 2016, WBW has been aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In 2018, a World Health Assembly resolution endorsed WBW as an important breastfeeding promotion strategy.

World Breastfeeding Week Significance

World Breastfeeding Week is an important event that serves as an opportunity to raise awareness about the benefits of breastfeeding, such as improved immunity, better growth, and development for babies, and health benefits for mothers. World Breastfeeding Week 2024 will focus on survival, health and well-being and will showcase the need to improve breastfeeding support to reduce inequalities that exist in our society, with a special focus on breastfeeding in times of emergencies and crises.

During the week, events and activities like educational workshops, public awareness campaigns, media engagement, and community gatherings are organised to promote breastfeeding.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 31, 2024 07:50 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).