| Event | World Breastfeeding Week |
| Date | August 1st to 7th (annually) |
| Theme (2024) | "Closing the gap: Breastfeeding support for all" |
| Objective | Promote and support breastfeeding for newborns and mothers; advocate for breastfeeding rights |
| Importance of Breast Milk | Primary source of nutrition for infants; composition: Water (87%), Carbohydrate (7%), Lipid (4%), Protein, vitamins, and minerals (1%) |
| Benefits for Infants | Protects against respiratory problems, SIDS, diarrhea, necrotizing enterocolitis, otitis media, obesity, and Type 1 Diabetes |
| Benefits for Mothers | Reduces risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer |
| WHO & UNICEF Recommendations | Exclusive breastfeeding for first six months; continued breastfeeding up to two years or beyond; complementary foods at six months |
| Global Impact | Could save over 820,000 children under five annually; exclusive breastfeeding reduces child mortality by 13% in developing nations |
| Indian Context | 20% global child deaths under five (2015); 38 infant mortality rate; 65% exclusive breastfeeding at six months; 45% early initiation |
| Challenges | Lack of family/community support, health services, sociocultural factors, workplace conditions |
| Workplace Challenges | Over 500 million working women lack maternity benefits; need for paid leave, lactation time, and flexible work options |
| Indian Maternity Benefit Act | 26 weeks paid maternity leave; creche facilities for establishments with 50+ employees; four daily creche visits until child is 15 months |
| History | Celebrated since 1990; aligned with UN SDGs since 2016; endorsed by WHO in 2018 |
