GOLD Learning Speakers

Global trends in breastfeeding rates only show modest increases between 2000 and 2015. Currently, about 40% of babies below 6 months are exclusively breastfed and several barriers on the structural, setting, and individual levels exist. Continuous support for mothers across the 1000 days from conception has been shown to be effective in increasing the duration and exclusivity of breastfeeding. WABA’s Warm Chain campaign places the mother-baby dyad at the core and strives to link different actors by coordinating efforts at all levels to provide a continuum of care during the first 1000 days. The warm chain needs to be protected, promoted, and supported. Protection includes implementation and monitoring of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes as well as coordination to ensure that all the linkages in the chain are working well. Promotion entails providing information about the roles and responsibilities of each actor along the timeline. Support includes increasing knowledge, skills, and competencies of multi-professional teams in order to provide optimal support for breastfeeding. Achieving a warm chain of support for breastfeeding will help increase breastfeeding rates, thus ensuring improved survival, health, and well being. The short and long-term positive effects impact individuals, societies, and the planet.