Nepal is organizing various programs across the country under coordination of the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) to mark the World Breastfeeding Week, MoHP said in KathmanduTuesday.

"On the occasion, Women Development Office, health volunteers, mothers' group, schools and local organizations will organize and take part in seminar, discussion, rally, public awareness programs to be organized for the next seven days from Tuesday," MoHP said in a press statement.

The theme for World Breastfeeding Week 2006 that begins Tuesday is "25 years of protecting breastfeeding."

According to the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (the organizers of the week), over 60 countries have legislated all or many provisions of the International Code of Marketing of Breast milk Substitutes (the Code), which regulates the marketing of breast milk substitutes.

"The week will celebrate this success and draw attention to the work still needed to improve breastfeeding practices worldwide," the statement noted.

According to latest statistics available, the percentage of infant's breastfed up to six months in Nepal is only about 68 percent.

Source: Xinhua