WHA RESOLUTION 43.3
The Forty-third World Health Assembly,
Recalling resolutions WHA33.32,
WHA34.22, WHA35.26,
WHA37.30, WHA39.28
and WHA41.11 on infant and
young child feeding and nutrition;
Having considered the report by the
Director-General on infant and young child nutrition;(1)
Reaffirming the unique biological
properties of breastmilk in protecting against infections,
in stimulating the development of the infant's own immune
system, and in limiting the development of some allergies;
Recalling the positive impact of breastfeeding
on the physical and emotional health of the mother, including
its important contribution to child-spacing;
Convinced of the importance of protecting
breastfeeding among groups and populations where it remains
the infant-feeding norm, and promoting it where it is
not, through appropriate information and support, as well
as recognizing the special needs of working women;
Recognizing the key role in protecting
and promoting breastfeeding played by health workers,
particularly nurses, midwives and those in child health/family
planning programmes, and the significance of the counselling
and support provided by mothers' groups;
Recognizing that, in spite of resolution
WHA39.28, free or low-cost
supplies of infant formula continue to be available to
hospitals and maternities, with adverse consequences for
breastfeeding;
Reiterating its concern over the decreasing
prevalence and duration of breastfeeding in many countries;
1. THANKS the Director-General for
his report;
2. URGES Member States:
(1) to protect and promote breastfeeding,
as an essential component of their overall food and
nutrition policies and programmes on behalf of women
and children, so as to enable all infants to be exclusively
breastfed during the first four to six months of life;
(2) to promote breastfeeding, with
due attention to the nutritional and emotional needs
of mothers;
(3) to continue monitoring breastfeeding
patterns, including traditional attitudes and practices
in this regard;
(4) to enforce existing, or adopt
new, maternity protection legislation or other suitable
measures that will promote and facilitate breastfeeding
among working women;
(5) to draw the attention of all
who are concerned with planning and providing maternity
services to the universal principles affirmed in the
joint WHO/UNICEF statement(2) on breastfeeding and maternity services
that was issued in 1989;
(6) to ensure that the principles
and aim of the International
Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and
the recommendations contained in resolution WHA39.28
are given full expression in national health and
nutritional policy and action, in cooperation with
professional associations, women's organizations, consumer
and other nongovermental groups, and the food industry;
(7) to ensure that families make
the most appropriate choice with regard to infant feeding,
and that the health system provides the necessary support;
3. REQUESTS the Director-General,
in collaboration with UNICEF and other international and
bilateral agencies concerned:
(1) to urge Member States to take
effective measures to implement the recommendations
included in resolution WHA39.28;
(2) to continue to review regional
and global trends in breastfeeding patterns, including
the relationship between breastfeeding and child-spacing;
(3) to support Member States, on
request, in adopting measures to improve infant and
young child nutrition, inter alia by collecting
and disseminating information on relevant national action
of interest to all Member States; and to mobilize technical
and financial resources to this end.
14 May 1990
(1) Document WHA43/1990/REC/1, p.35
(2) Protecting,
promoting and supporting breastfeeding: the special role
of maternity services. A joint WHO/UNICEF statement,
Geneva, World Health Organization, 1989
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