78th WHA Individual Statements
Breastfeeding saves lives: raising global breastfeeding rates to recommended levels would save 820,000 children’s lives and 98,000 mothers’ lives each year. Research finds that including lactation consultants in health care teams increases breastfeeding initiation and duration rates.
Lactation consultants complete lactation specific education, study health sciences, and have pre-qualification clinical experience before examination. They have the competencies to counsel families with common and complex breastfeeding problems, and provide infant feeding education. As specialists, they can train other health workers, engage in research, implement the BFHI programme, develop policy, and lower overall health costs.
We urge member states to invest in qualified skilled lactation care providers as critical members of the health and care workforce.