VIENTIANE (Xinhua): Laos' Ministry of Health marked National Nutrition Day and World Breastfeeding Week 2026, highlighting the importance of maternal nutrition and breastfeeding in strengthening children's immunity and supporting healthy growth and development.
The ceremony, held in the Lao capital Vientiane on Tuesday, brought together development partners, representatives from relevant ministries, and health officials from all 18 provinces, according to the Ministry of Health on Wednesday.
The Lao government continues to prioritize education, healthcare, and social protection, with the Ministry of Health focusing on health promotion, sanitation, and equitable access to quality healthcare.
Maternal and child health and nutrition remain key priorities in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and supporting the country's graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status.
The ministry highlighted the vital link between good maternal nutrition and breastfeeding.
Adequate nutrition enables mothers to produce quality breast milk, providing infants with essential nutrients and natural antibodies that support healthy growth, brain development, and immunity. Breastfeeding also promotes maternal recovery after childbirth, strengthens the mother-child bond, and delivers long-term health, economic, and environmental benefits.
The ministry called on both the public and private sectors to strengthen policies and create supportive environments that enable mothers to breastfeed successfully. -- XInhua
