RCN welcomes global breastfeeding campaign

Published: 19 February 2013

The Royal College of Nursing has welcomed the launch of a new report that provides a global perspective on the positive value of encouraging breastfeeding in the fight against malnutrition.

Superfood for Babies, published by Save the Children, describes the powerful impact of breastfeeding on reducing child mortality rates and argues that breastfeeding should be at the centre of efforts to improve child nutrition around the world.

Carmel Bagness, RCN Midwifery and Women’s Health Adviser, and Fiona Smith, RCN Adviser in Children's and Young People's Nursing, said the report highlights the use of breastfeeding as a superfood in accelerating progress already made globally in reducing child mortality and morbidity.

“We fully support any strategy that attempts to empower women to have choices that support a better quality of life for themselves and their babies and children. We also recognise and support the need for national and global lobbying of national government bodies and other key authorities that could influence the health and wellbeing of babies, children, women and families to enhance the development of positive and life sustaining family units,” they added.

The report highlights the ways in which the actions of breast milk substitute companies are continuing to undermine breastfeeding in poorer countries, and as part of the campaign, a petition has been launched calling on Nestlé and Danone to change their marketing practices.