Ministry of Women and Child Development to observe World Breastfeeding Week from August 1-7
New Delhi, July 31
The Ministry of Women and Child Development will observe World Breastfeeding Week 2026 from August 1 to 7 across the country to raise awareness among families, communities and healthcare providers about the importance of breastfeeding for child and maternal health.
The Ministry said breastfeeding is among the most effective interventions for child survival, healthy growth and cognitive development. It urged families to ensure that every newborn receives breast milk within the first hour after birth, also known as the "Golden Hour."
The Ministry highlighted that colostrum, the first milk produced after childbirth, is rich in antibodies and essential nutrients and should not be discarded. It described colostrum as the baby's first natural vaccine.
Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months means feeding infants only breast milk, without water, honey, ghutti, glucose or formula, as breast milk alone meets all nutritional and hydration requirements during this period.
The Ministry further stated that complementary foods should be introduced after six months while continuing breastfeeding up to two years and beyond. It encouraged mothers to maintain skin-to-skin contact after birth, breastfeed frequently and seek guidance from ASHA workers, Anganwadi Workers or healthcare providers whenever required. It also said working mothers may express and safely store breast milk.
Breastfeeding also benefits mothers by supporting postpartum recovery and reducing the risk of breast and ovarian cancers, type-2 diabetes and postpartum depression.
The Ministry called upon healthcare professionals, community workers, families and citizens to create an enabling environment that empowers every mother to breastfeed and ensures every child receives the best possible start in life.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The "Golden Hour" point is crucial. In our villages, many families still don't understand the value of colostrum. My grandmother used to insist on discarding it thinking it's "dirty milk." It took a lot of convincing to change her mind. Education at the grassroots level through Anganwadi workers is the real game-changer here.
Good initiative, but let's also talk about the lack of proper breastfeeding rooms in offices and public spaces across India. Working mothers like me struggle to find clean, private places to express milk. Until we fix the infrastructure, these campaigns will only have limited impact. 🤷♀️
Kudos to the Ministry for emphasizing the benefits to mothers as well. The link between breastfeeding and reduced risk of ovarian cancer isn't talked about enough. Also, the point about skin-to-skin contact is scientifically proven to boost bonding. We need more such community-driven awareness weeks. 🙏
As an ASHA worker in rural UP, I see the challenges daily. Many mothers are malnourished themselves, which affects their milk supply. While this campaign is good, we also need to address maternal nutrition. Also, the pressure from elderly family members to introduce formula or commercial baby food is real. This awareness needs to include the whole family, not just mothers! 💪
Impressive initiative. I've seen how effective such public health campaigns can be when deployed at scale. The emphasis on the "first natural vaccine" is particularly well-phrased. Wishing all Indian mothers and children a healthy start. May this week spark long-term behavioral change.