An increase in the number of babies being breastfed exclusively is though to be saving 15 million lives every year.
UNICEF/Phillip Yabao
Babies can get all the nutrition they need from breast milk and - unlike bottle feeding – it's totally free.
What's more, breastfeeding helps to protect babies from diseases, including pneumonia, measles and malaria. That's because antibodies are passed from the mother to the baby in the milk, helping their bodies to fight against diseases. Human milk protects babies from diarrhoea and serious respiratory (lung and throat) infections, as well as stimulating their immune systems. It even helps their development – research shows that breastfed children are more advanced and even have higher IQs.
The good news is that, between 1990 and 2000 in developing countries, the number of children who are exclusively breastfed until they're six months old in the developing world has increased. Globally, it's increased by 15 per cent, saving six million lives every year.
But the bad news is that, despite improvements, only 38 per cent of children less than 6 months old in developing countries are exclusively breastfed, and just 39 per cent of 20-23 month olds in these areas benefit from the practice of continued breastfeeding. This is because mothers don't understand how important it is, and they don't get the advice and support they need from health workers and communities.
How UNICEF helps
UNICEF has teamed up with the World Health Organization to encourage health workers to promote breastfeeding. In 1991, they launched the Baby Friendly award, which is given to hospitals that support successful breastfeeding.
British breastfeeding rates are amongst the lowest in Europe. At birth, 76 per cent of babies born here are breastfed at birth, falling to 63 per cent at one week. Only one in five babies still receives breast milk at six months. Just one in five babies are still receiving breast milk at six months, despite recommendations that babies need nothing other than breastfeeding for the first six months of life.
UNICEF UK's Baby Friendly Initiative works with hospitals in the UK, to support them in helping mothers to breastfeed their babies. UNICEF is also calling on the government to make laws to protect the right of mothers to breastfeed their babies in public.