The Ministry of Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs is joining the rest of the region in recognising World Breastfeeding Week from August 1 to 7, under the theme Prioritising Breastfeeding in the Caribbean: Towards Sustainable Support Systems.
This theme aims to show the growing urgency to improve the programmes, policies and networks that help mothers breastfeed successfully. This is essential to “ensuring that every child in Saint Lucia has the healthiest start to life”, the ministry said in a press release.
The release noted that breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to improve child survival, support healthy development and lower the risk of non-communicable diseases. It also benefits mothers by reducing their chances of postpartum haemorrhage, breast cancer and ovarian cancer.
While Saint Lucia has made progress in encouraging mothers to start breastfeeding early, the ministry acknowledges that “exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life remains a significant challenge”. Many mothers are still affected by limited workplace accommodations, a lack of consistent support at home and in the community, and inadequate breastfeeding assistance in healthcare settings.
To help close these gaps, the ministry is reinforcing its commitment to key actions. These include rolling out the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative in both public hospitals and offering enhanced training for healthcare providers to deliver “evidence-based breastfeeding counselling and care”.
Authorities are also promoting community support networks and encouraging greater involvement from fathers and families to “share responsibility in supporting breastfeeding mothers”. At the policy level, officials continue to advocate for stronger maternity protection and workplace breastfeeding policies across both the public and private sectors.
The ministry is calling on the private sector, community leaders and civil society to work together in “building an environment where breastfeeding is not only encouraged but actively protected and supported”. It said that “prioritising breastfeeding is a national investment”, one that improves public health, lowers healthcare costs, enhances educational outcomes and strengthens Saint Lucia’s long-term resilience.
“Let us make breastfeeding a national priority. Together we can build sustainable support systems that empower every mother in Saint Lucia to breastfeed successfully for the health of our children, the well-being of our families, and the strength of our future generations,” the ministry said.
