• says Health Minister on World Breastfeeding Protection Day 2025

• highlights link between breastfeeding and public health

GUYANA, on Wednesday, joined the international community in commemorating World Breastfeeding Protection Day 2025 under the theme: “Protect Breastfeeding: For My Rights, No Misleading Digital Marketing.”

The observance was marked by a strong message from Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, who emphasised the importance of safeguarding breastfeeding practices from the growing threat of digital misinformation and aggressive marketing of breast-milk substitutes.
In his statement, Dr. Anthony reaffirmed the government’s commitment to promoting breastfeeding as a public health priority and a cornerstone of child survival, maternal well-being, and national development.

“Breastfeeding is not only a personal choice but a public health priority,” Dr. Anthony declared. “The evidence is clear—breastfed babies receive the best start in life. It is a natural intervention that supports the survival of children, strengthens maternal health, and contributes to national development.”
Despite these benefits, breastfeeding rates globally—and in Guyana—remain below optimal levels. Citing statistics from the World Health Organization, Dr. Anthony noted that only 54% of infants are breastfed within the first hour of birth, 43% are exclusively breastfed during the first six months, and only 43% continue to be breastfed by age two.
A significant factor contributing to these low figures is the misleading marketing of infant formula and other breast-milk substitutes, especially through digital platforms. Dr. Anthony warned

that these tactics not only distort public perception but can severely undermine maternal confidence and informed decision-making during critical periods of infant care.
To combat this, Guyana remains a committed signatory to the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes, adopted by the World Health Assembly in 1991. While the Code does not ban the sale or use of substitutes, it sets firm boundaries on promotional practices that could mislead parents or discourage breastfeeding.
“As we commemorate this important day,” Dr. Anthony said, “I urge all stakeholders—health workers, parents, caregivers, policy-makers, and media personnel—to recognise that breastfeeding is everyone’s business.”

He called on all sectors of society to support breastfeeding mothers, ensure they are protected from misleading advertising, and uphold their right to make informed choices free of commercial influence.
“Let us reaffirm our commitment to upholding the rights of mothers and children by ensuring they are given the best possible start in life,” Dr. Anthony concluded, “free from misleading marketing, and surrounded by the support they need to breastfeed confidently and successfully.”

World Breastfeeding Protection Day is part of broader global efforts to achieve optimal infant and young child nutrition, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals on health, equity, and human rights.