Experts have found that in the initial six months of life, only 10% of infants are being breastfed by their mothers. Health care professionals and communities feel that immediate steps should be taken for the promotion of breastfeeding in Vietnam.

It is imperative that mothers should be made aware of the benefits of breastfeeding.

A press meet was co-planned by the Health Ministry, together with the United Nations and the Alive & Thrive initiative, to start World Breastfeeding Week 2010 (WBW). The “call for action” move is a part of WBW.

Breastfeeding has a significant role to play in the first six months of an infant's life.

Deputy Minister of Health, Nguyen Ba Thuy emphasized that breastfeeding is capable of supplying vital nutrients to infants and to small kids during the initial phases of their lives, but it is disappointing that only 55% of Vietnamese mothers start breastfeeding their children within an hour after their birth.

There are some misconceptions, which postpone the commencement of breastfeeding. Some think that the production of breast milk is not in ample quantity.

Also, C-section deliveries; parting of mother and infant right after birth; inadequate counseling from healthcare experts because of hectic schedules; and easy availability of milk formula are some of the other reasons that result in the delay of breastfeeding.