Breastfeeding holds key to saving lives of 1.3m babies: Unicef

If more infants worldwide are given only mother’s milk and no food or formula until the age of six months, at least 1.3 million lives could be saved this year, the UN Children’s Fund (Unicef) has said.

With more than 10 million children dying annually from mainly preventable causes like diarrhoea and pneumonia, the agency said if every baby were exclusively breastfed for the first half-year of life, an estimated 3,500 lives could be saved each day. It is estimated that 39% of babies worldwide are being breastfed exclusively in the first six months.

Unicef said that breastmilk contains all the nutrients, antibodies, hormones, immune factors and antioxidants that an infant needs to thrive during the first six months of life. It also protects babies from diarrhoea and acute respiratory infections while stimulating their immune systems.

Unicef called for greater global commitment to support breastfeeding, saying it was “the most natural act of mother and newborn”.

“If a child dies a preventable death it’s because mothers and infants are not getting the basic support they need,” said Unicef chief Carol Bellamy.

In the first two months of life, an infant who is not exclusively breastfed is up to 25 times more likely to die from diarrhoea and four times more likely to die from pneumonia than a non-breastfed baby. Growth and development may stall and the child stands a greater risk of obesity, heart disease and gastro-intestinal problems in later years, Unicef said.

Ms Bellamy said that every mother who chooses to exclusively breastfeed for six months has the right to services and support from their governments, communities and families.

More than 120 countries are participating in World Breastfeeding Week which began on Saturday.

(gmcg)