This year’s campaign is held under the slogan “Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months is enough” and aims to raise awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding for mothers and children.
According to the ministry, the initiative reflects Morocco’s ongoing commitment to maternal and child health and nutrition, in line with royal directives prioritizing investment in human capital from early childhood.
The campaign also supports the National Communication Strategy for Social and Behavioral Change, which seeks to encourage healthy nutrition and health practices during the first 1,000 days of a child’s life. Promoting early initiation of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding is a key part of that effort.
The ministry aims to highlight breastfeeding’s role in supporting children’s physical, cognitive and emotional development. International health guidance also recognizes breastfeeding as one of the most effective ways to help prevent malnutrition and chronic diseases.
The World Health Organization recommends initiating breastfeeding within the first hour after birth and feeding infants exclusively with breast milk for the first six months. Breastfeeding should then continue alongside complementary foods until the child reaches two years of age or beyond. The WHO has set a global target of reaching a 70% rate of exclusive breastfeeding by 2030.
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To support these goals, the campaign includes awareness activities for mothers and the wider community, alongside efforts to mobilize healthcare professionals, community workers and local media.
The ministry also plans to strengthen the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative and ensure compliance with the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes.
Through the campaign, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection reaffirmed its commitment to improving public health indicators, investing in human capital and promoting better health outcomes for future generations.
