World Health Day 2007.

• Tenlastelegging: Worldwide news

This year's theme for World Health Day, 'invest in health, build a safer future' invited various interpretations. The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) joined with La Leche League International (LLLI) in a reminder that support and protection of breastfeeding is an investment in maternal and child health. Their joint statement demonstrated that such an investment would show returns in: the foundation for the infant's immune system; a boost for the infant's nervous system; a shield from malnutrition; prevention of obesity and overweight; and overall increased survival. In low resource areas, the child's chance of surviving in the first months of life is far greater if he is breastfed.

As well as nourishing the child, breastfeeding also protects the mother by lowering her risk of breast...