The World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) is the greatest outreach vehicle for the breastfeeding movement, being celebrated in over 120 countries. Officially it is celebrated from 1–7 August. However, groups may choose other dates to make it a more successful event in their countries. Please contact the breastfeeding group listed in the action folder nearest to you.

This year’s WBW (2005) aims to :

• Draw attention to the value of continuing to breastfeed children to 2 years or beyond.
• Raise awareness of the risks and costs of introducing other foods and drinks to breastfed babies before 6 months, thereby strengthening support for 6 months exclusive breastfeeding.
• Up-date information and ideas about the kinds of other foods and drinks needed by older breastfed babies and young children after 6 months.
• Share ideas for making complementary feeding easier, healthier and a time for learning and love.

Preparing for WBW

In preparation for WBW activities, you may want to start with some of the following:

Find out how many mothers breastfeed exclusively in your country or district, from national statistics, research studies, or data available from the internet, WHO or UNICEF.

Find out if there have been any meetings about the Global Strategy, and if there are any plans to implement it in the country.

Talk to some mothers in hospitals, clinics, the community, or your workplace, about their experiences, whether they breastfed exclusively and what the reasons for their decisions were.

Talk to any doctors or other health workers you know and ask them what their ideas about exclusive breastfeeding are, and if they have heard about the Global Strategy.