HIBAPRESS
The Ministry of Health and Social Protection, in partnership with the National Initiative for Human Development, has launched the sixteenth edition of the National Campaign to Encourage Breastfeeding, running from October 20 to November 20, 2026, under the slogan: "Exclusive Breastfeeding for the First Six Months is Sufficient."
This national campaign comes as part of the continuous commitment to promote the health and nutrition of mothers and children, and in implementation of the high royal directives calling for making investment in human capital from early childhood a national priority.
This initiative also falls within the framework of implementing the National Strategy for Communication for Social and Behavioral Change, which aims to entrench positive health and nutritional practices during the first thousand days of a child's life, including encouraging early and exclusive breastfeeding.
The campaign aims to highlight the vital role of breastfeeding in ensuring the healthy and sound growth of the child, physically, cognitively, and emotionally, in line with international trends that emphasize that breastfeeding is among the most effective means of preventing malnutrition and chronic diseases.
It is worth noting that the World Health Organization stresses the necessity of initiating breastfeeding within the first hour after birth, and exclusively adopting it during the first six months, while continuing it alongside complementary feeding until the child reaches two years of age or more.
The organization has also set a global goal of achieving a 70% rate of exclusive breastfeeding by 2030.
In this regard, an integrated action plan has been developed, including organizing awareness activities for mothers and the community, with the mobilization of health professionals, community mediators, and local media.
The "Baby-Friendly Hospitals" initiative will also be strengthened, and adherence to the provisions of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes will be ensured.
Through this campaign, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection affirms its firm commitment to improving public health indicators, contributing to the development of human capital and ensuring a better future for future generations.
