Beirut, 3 August 2026 – On the occasion of World Breastfeeding Week, the Ministry of Public Health, in partnership with UNICEF, and in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Bank and partners, launched the National campaign on Breastfeeding and the Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) Capacity Building Programme.
The launch highlights Lebanon’s commitment to strengthening support for breastfeeding and improving infant and young child feeding practices, recognizing their essential role in children’s survival, growth, development and long-term health.
the Minster of Public Health Dr. Rakan Nassereldine said: “We, at the Ministry of Public Health, reaffirm our commitment to advancing national programmes that promote the health of mothers and children. We firmly believe that investing in nutrition during the earliest stages of life is an investment in healthier children, stronger communities, and a healthier, more prosperous future for our nation.”
The newly launched Community Infant and Young Child Feeding Package, alongside the updated IYCF training toolkit and complementary feeding guidance , will equip, caregivers, frontline health workers and health professionals, with practical knowledge and skills to provide quality, evidence-based counselling and support to mothers, caregivers and families across hospitals, primary health care centres and communities.
“Today’s launch goes beyond raising awareness; it strengthens the systems and capacities that will continue supporting children and families for years to come” said Marcoluigi Corsi, UNICEF Representative in Lebanon “UNICEF is proud to support the Ministry of Public Health and partners in advancing quality infant and young child feeding services across Lebanon, giving every child the best possible start in life.”
Good nutrition in the first two years of life shapes a child’s entire future, their growth, their brain development, their ability to learn,” said Dr Yutaro Setoya, WHO Deputy Representative in Lebanon. “This new complementary feeding guidance gives health workers across Lebanon the tools to support families with accurate, consistent advice at exactly the moments it matters most. WHO remains committed to working alongside the Ministry of Public Health and our partners to make sure every child in Lebanon gets the healthy start they deserve.
“Investing in child nutrition is an investment in Lebanon’s human capital. The first years of life are a critical window for building the foundations of health, learning, and future productivity. The World Bank is proud to support this training toolkit, which equips healthcare workers with practical skills to provide quality nutrition support and help give children the strongest possible start in life” Said Mouna Couzi, World Bank Representative in Lebanon.
The National IYCF Capacity Building Programme aims to strengthen the skills of health professionals and community-based workers, ensuring that families receive consistent and appropriate quality support on breastfeeding and complementary feeding. The Program contributes to building stronger foundation for quality nutrition services and better health system that enable pregnant women, parents, and caregivers to make informed feeding and care choices, particularly during the child’s first 1,000 days, a critical window when good nutrition, responsive caregiving and early stimulation lay the foundation for healthy growth, brain development, learning and lifelong well-being.
Through this collaboration, the Ministry of Public Health, WHO, the World Bank, UNICEF and partners continue working to strengthen Lebanon’s health and nutrition systems and advance the well-being of every child.
About UNICEF
Working in Lebanon for over 70 years, UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone
For more information about UNICEF Lebanon and our work for children, visit www.unicef.org/lebanon/ or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube