World Breastfeeding Week begins; Ministry of Health urges collective support
The Ministry of Health urges exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and continued breastfeeding with complementary feeding up to two years or longer.
World Breastfeeding Week opens this year under the slogan “Breastfeeding for a sustainable start in life — let's strengthen what works,” and the Ministry of Health in Skopje has issued a reminder of the health benefits of breastfeeding.
Recommendations and official guidance
“Breast milk provides all the necessary nutrients for proper growth and development, strengthens immunity, reduces the risk of numerous diseases and contributes to better health for both mother and child,” the Ministry of Health said.
Following guidance from the Committee on Breastfeeding, UNICEF and WHO, the Ministry stresses exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. After six months, breastfeeding should continue alongside appropriate complementary foods up to two years of age or longer, according to the child's needs and the mother's wishes.
The Ministry called for collective responsibility: health professionals, institutions, employers, families and the wider community are urged to create conditions that make successful breastfeeding possible.
Officials framed support for breastfeeding as a long-term investment in public health, saying that enabling mothers to breastfeed properly improves the health prospects of current and future generations.
Photo: press material from the event
