- Only 44% of women worldwide exclusively breastfeed their babies for the first six months of their lives, which is what the World Health Organisation recommends. In South Africa, data shows the number likely sits at around 32%.
- Breast milk naturally boosts babies’ immune systems, protecting them against illnesses like asthma, diarrhoea and diabetes, and also improves thinking skills.
- The World Bank estimates that every $1 (R18) invested in encouraging breastfeeding could generate $35 (R630), injecting billions into the world’s economy.
- A new proposal that aims to get more women to breastfeed, says this could cut back the greenhouse gas emissions that lead to global warming and get countries that produce the bulk of emissions to pay for it.
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