Exclusive breastfeeding among children under six months of age has increased remarkably in many sub-Saharan African countries over the last 10 years.

The rate in developing countries is now nearly 40 per cent.

Proper infant feeding practices are key to child survival. Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life has the potential to avert 13 per cent of all under-five deaths in developing countries, making it the most effective preventive method of saving children’s lives. Timely and appropriate complementary feeding could avert a further six per cent of under-five deaths.