Invest in Health Systems to Boost Breastfeeding Support and Outcomes

Investing in health systems to support breastfeeding is crucial for improving infant health and development, as breastfeeding acts as a natural defense against diseases and promotes lifelong well-being. Despite progress, only about 48% of infants under six months are exclusively breastfed globally, below the 60% target for 2030, partly due to gaps in healthcare training and support for mothers. Strengthening healthcare services to provide skilled lactation counseling, enforcing policies like maternity leave and the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes, and creating supportive environments at work and in communities can help more mothers breastfeed successfully, yielding significant health and economic benefits for families and societies. Every dollar invested in breastfeeding returns about $35 in economic gains, highlighting its value beyond health[2][3][5].