Senior Consultant, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Peerless Hospital Guwahati
World Breastfeeding Week is commemorated every year in the month of August with the aim of raising awareness and promoting the importance of breastfeeding. Initiated in 1992 by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), the week is now observed in over 120 countries worldwide, making it a truly global movement.
Each year, World Breastfeeding Week is centred around a specific theme to highlight different aspects of breastfeeding and maternal health. The theme for 2025 is “Prioritise Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems”. This theme highlights the crucial need to establish long-term, equitable support systems for breastfeeding mothers.
The campaign aims to recognise the value of breastfeeding for both maternal and environmental health. Breastfeeding is not only essential for the health and development of the child, but also has numerous benefits for mothers, including reducing the risk of certain cancers and promoting emotional well-being. Furthermore, breastfeeding is a sustainable practice that reduces reliance on manufactured alternatives, contributing to environmental conservation.
A key goal of the initiative is to increase the global rate of exclusive breastfeeding—where infants receive only breast milk and no other food or drink—for the first six months of life. By 2025, the target is to raise this rate to at least 50%.
World Breastfeeding Week serves as a powerful reminder that the health of mothers and infants is a shared responsibility. Governments, healthcare systems, workplaces, and communities must collaborate to provide the necessary infrastructure and support, ensuring that breastfeeding mothers are empowered, respected, and enabled to breastfeed successfully.
Dr. Malabika Bhagawati
Tuesday, December 16, 2025