DHAKA, July 31, 2026 (BSS)- The breastfeeding week begins tomorrow in the country with more than 170 natios around the world to join the global campaign aimed at creating public awareness to promote breastfeeding to protect child health, 

The World Breastfeeding Week is being observed in Bangladesh since 2010. 

The Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation has taken special initiatives and programmes to mark the week. 

The theme of World Breastfeeding Week 2026 is: 'Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works.'

In honour of the declaration of the Innocenti Research Centre in Florence, Italy  in 1990, a global campaign was launched in 1992 to raise awareness and encourage mothers worldwide to breastfeed their children.

Various studies have shown that breast milk is the ideal nutritious food for newborns and significantly reduces the risk of infectious diseases.

Breastfed children acquire proper mental and physical development. Breastfeeding also reduces the risk of breast and ovarian cancer among mothers.

Exclusive breastfeeding from birth to six months of age is globally recognised as the complete source of nutrition for infants.

According to a study by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, breastfeeding reduces child mortality by 20 percent.

Various studies have also shown that breastfed children have much lower chances of suffering from diarrhoea, pneumonia, ear and chest infections, constipation, eczema and allergies, as well as obesity and type 2 diabetes in adulthood compared to children who are not breastfed. 

Breastfeeding also contributes to proper cognitive development among children.

To mark the beginning of the World Breastfeeding Week, a discussion will be held tomorrow at 9:45am at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain will attend the event as the chief guest.

State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr. M A Muhit and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Affairs S M Ziauddin Hyder will also attend as special guests.