The Initiative
All parents want the best for their children.
Breastfeeding provides exceptional moments during which a mother develops a special bond with her child and so much more.
Breastfeeding is a vital part of giving every child the healthiest start to life. It’s the baby’s first vaccine; his/her best source of nutrition and it paves the way for healthy development of his/her brain.
The Stronger with Breastmilk Only initiative promotes giving babies breastmilk only, on demand, and stopping the practice of giving water (and other liquids and foods), from the moment of their birth through their first six months of life.
The initiative aims for West and Central Africa to achieve the global exclusive breastfeeding target of 50 per cent by 2025.
Stronger with Breastmilk Only initiative responds to the call to action of the Global Breastfeeding Collective, which gathers more than 20 international organizations that collectively advocate for increased investments and policy change to achieve the global breastfeeding goal.
Learn more by watching this short video
Listen to the Podcast
WHO and UNICEF recommend:
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Early initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of birth.
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Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life.
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Introduction of nutritionally adequate and safe complementary (solid) foods at six months together with continued breastfeeding up to two years of age or beyond.
Key Facts
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Only four out of every 10 newborns are breastfed one hour after birth in West and Central Africa.
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Only three out of 10 babies under six months are exclusively breastfed in West and Central Africa. Most breastfed babies are given other liquids and foods, in most cases water is given.
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In Sub-Saharan Africa, the cost of not breastfeeding is the highest in the world, with economic losses representing 2.57 per cent of GNI.
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Breastfeeding is one of the best investments in global health: every $1 invested in breastfeeding generates $35 in economic returns.
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Breastfeeding is an investment that not only improves children’s health and saves lives, but also develops human capital, which can benefit a country’s economy.
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The scaling up of breastfeeding can prevent an estimated 823 000 child deaths and 20 000 breast cancer deaths every year.
News
2022 Aug 06
On behalf of Alive & Thrive, UNICEF and WHO, the ‘Stronger with Breastmilk Only’ regional initiative is pleased to invite you to a 90-minute webinar on August 22 at 12:00 GMT to discuss how to accelerate the 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding in West and Central Africa.
2022 Aug 04
In Congo, at the Odziba Integrated Health Center, mothers are made aware in song as soon as they leave the delivery room on the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding on their health and that of their baby.
Assivine is a mother of 3 healthy children, and she urges all mothers to do the same.
2022 Jul 22
Please join the Global Breastfeeding Collective at a webinar about the Ten Steps to Breastfeeding to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week. At the event, you will learn about tools and resources to help adopt baby-friendly, evidence-based practices to support breastfeeding in health systems, and be inspired by stories about the Ten Steps in action.
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