World Breastfeeding Week: 1–7 August 2026
Authors: Sharon Namasambi1*, Pauline Achom1, Martha Dorcus Nalweyiso1, Patrick Pithua1 Institutional affiliation: 1Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Uganda National Institute of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda *Correspondence: Email: nabsharon@uniph.go.ug; Tel: +256772511067
Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure child health and survival and yet currently, fewer than half of infants under 6 months old are exclusively breastfed.
The World Breastfeeding Week will be observed from 1–7 August to promote breastfeeding as a cornerstone of child survival, nutrition, and healthy development.
The commemoration highlights the importance of breastfeeding in reducing infant morbidity and mortality while contributing to improved maternal health outcomes.
Breastfeeding provides infants with optimal nutrition, strengthens immunity, and supports healthy growth and cognitive development.
The week aims to create supportive environments for breastfeeding mothers through stronger health systems, workplace support, community engagement, and policies that protect and promote breastfeeding practices.
Governments, employers, health workers, communities, and families are encouraged to support breastfeeding mothers and strengthen initiatives that enable every child to receive the benefits of optimal infant and young child feeding practices.
