'Exclusive breastfeeding: the gold standard--safe, sound, sustainable' ... (www.waba.org.my).

... is the theme of this year's World Breastfeeding Week--August 1-7, or any other appropriate week. The context for this is the new Global Strategy.

Exclusive breastfeeding is:

* SAFE because it contains protective factors which help to prevent and fight infections, such as diarrhoea and pneumonia, and reduce the risk of allergic conditions, particularly asthma.

* SOUND because nutrients in breastmilk are present in the right quantity and they are of special quality. Formula and other foods contain nutrients in different amounts, and of very different quality.

* SUSTAINABLE because it helps a household's food security. So long as an infant's mother, or a wet nurse, is there, breastmilk is available.

Most babies are not exclusively breastfed. Accurate knowledge, a supportive environment, and confidence are major factors enabling mothers to breastfeed successfully. Policy makers should ensure that policies follow the Global Strategy, and support exclusive breast feeding;

Health Care Providers should follow the Global Strategy, counsel women about breastfeeding, before and after delivery. The community, employers and families need to understand about exclusive breastfeeding, and how to support mothers to achieve it;

'Other mothers can give mother-to-mother support. Mothers, acting together, can help to change community attitudes.