A number of countries have made significant progress in increasing exclusive breastfeeding rates in the last 10 years.

Yet even greater progress is possible when breastfeeding is protected and supported, particularly in the workplace, according to a joint statement made by UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell and WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Tuesday on the occasion of World Breastfeeding Week.

In the last decade, the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding has increased by a remarkable 10 percentage points, to 48 per cent globally. Countries as diverse as Cote d’Ivoire, Marshall Islands, the Philippines, Somalia, and Viet Nam have achieved large increases in breastfeeding rates, showing that progress is possible when breastfeeding is protected, promoted, and supported.