The World Health Organization and UNICEF issued a joint statement: Breastfeeding is the core of eliminating child malnutrition

United Nations News reported on August 2 that the 2021 World Breastfeeding Week starts today, with the theme "Protecting Breastfeeding: A Shared Responsibility." UNICEF Executive Director Fore and WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus issued a joint statement stating that breastfeeding is core to achieving the global commitment to eliminate child malnutrition. The statement points out that breastfeeding initiated within the first few hours of life, by exclusive breastfeeding for six months and continued for longer periods of time, can prevent all forms of child malnutrition while breastfeeding also serves as a source of support for the baby. doses of vaccines to protect them against many common childhood diseases

The statement stated that although breastfeeding rates have improved over the past 40 years, with global exclusive breastfeeding rates rising by 50%, the COVID-19 epidemic has highlighted the fragility of these gains.

The statement said that in many countries, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused severe disruptions in breastfeeding support services and increased risks of food insecurity and malnutrition.