UNICEF and WHO: Breastfeeding Can Save 540,000 Lives

UNICEF and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have reported that enhancing breastfeeding practices globally could save approximately 540,000 lives each year, including nearly 400,000 child deaths and about 140,000 maternal deaths. In a joint statement released ahead of World Breastfeeding Week, they emphasized that breastfeeding is a cost-effective public health investment, with every US$1 spent on breastfeeding promotion yielding an estimated US$59 in economic returns.

Despite these benefits, many mothers lack access to necessary support services. Recent data shows that exclusive breastfeeding rates have increased from 37% in 2012 to over 47% today, while breastfeeding up to two years has risen from 38% to 50% in the last five years.

However, UNICEF and WHO expressed concerns about inadequate support services and inconsistent policy enforcement, particularly in low-income and fragile settings. They called on governments to strengthen health systems, expand community-based support, and enforce protections against exploitative marketing of commercial milk formulas.