Sustaining Action Beyond World Breastfeeding Week
Lessons from Amhara Region
On 4 August 2025, the Amhara Regional Health Bureau, with financial and technical support from CASCADE (CAtalyzing Strengthened policy aCtion for heAlthy Diets and resiliencE), marked the regional celebration of World Breastfeeding Week in Bahir Dar. The event brought together government leaders, academia, health professionals, and development partners to take stock of breastfeeding practices, address persistent barriers, and commit to tangible policy action.
Evidence That Demands Action
Research findings presented by Bahir Dar University highlighted both the benefits of breastfeeding and the consequences of inadequate practice. The data showed:
- Exclusive breastfeeding remains far below targets across the region.
- Urban areas face greater challenges, especially among civil servants, due to lack of breastfeeding-friendly workplace facilities.
- Rural areas perform relatively better, but exclusive breastfeeding is still inconsistent due to limited awareness and socio-cultural barriers.
“Not Just a Week” – A Call for Year-Round Commitment
In his speech remarks, Ato Gisitie Tilahun, Deputy Head of the Regional Health Bureau, stressed:
“The issue of breastfeeding is not a week activity, rather it is a continuous task that we are expected to practice and follow through to ensure a healthy diet for infants.”
The event theme “Prioritize Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems” underscored that awareness must translate into ongoing institutional and community support.
Key Recommendations from the Panel Discussions
Participants identified priority actions for government, partners, and the private sector:
- Establish breastfeeding corners in all government and private institutions.
- Enforce supportive workplace policies to enable working mothers to breastfeed.
- Scale up community-level awareness campaigns targeting both urban and rural settings.
- Engage media platforms to sustain year-round public attention.
Moving from Commitment to Accountability
The celebration concluded with a joint commitment from the regional government, partner organizations, and media institutions to reverse declining breastfeeding trends. The challenge now lies in translating these commitments into measurable action.
CASCADE will continue to support advocacy and implementation efforts, including similar events at zonal, woreda, and kebele levels. Follow-up will focus on ensuring that recommended workplace policies, community interventions, and public awareness strategies are put into practice.
Why This Matters
Sustained breastfeeding is not just a health issue; it is a matter of child rights, women’s economic participation, and long-term public health resilience. With coordinated action and accountability, the Amhara Region can meet and even surpass its breastfeeding targets.
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©CASCADE 2025
