Breastfeeding Support

Chinese experts have called for support from society to create an encouraging environment for breastfeeding during the World Breastfeeding Week which ended on August 7. The rate of breastfeeding in China is lower than 50 percent among six-month-old infants, according to the World Health Organization.

“Mothers need support from both family and social communities for breastfeeding, including medical care institutions and work places, and they also need legal protection and social security,” said Ge Yanfeng with the Development Research Center of the State Council. Ge’s view was echoed by a report released by China Development Research Foundation. “Measures should be taken to raise public awareness on the importance of breastfeeding, encourage medical care institutions to provide professional guidance and help for new mothers, and improve the legislation for maternity leave and the childbirth insurance system,” the report said.