Government Initiative Achieves Milestone in Breastfeeding Support. In a significant advancement for maternal and child health, the government has successfully trained over 1,000 breastfeeding counselors as part of a broader initiative spearheaded by First Lady Gabriela de Bukele. Throughout August, Breastfeeding Week activities included extensive training for National Integrated Health System staff and community members.
Health Minister Francisco Alabi announced that 285 breastfeeding advisors and 1,000 counselors are now certified, highlighting the impact of ongoing training efforts. Elisa Gamero, head of Health and Nutrition Projects at the First Lady’s Office, praised First Lady Gabriela de Bukele’s leadership for driving this progress.
The initiative, aligned with policies such as the Born with Affection Law, has contributed to notable health improvements. Maternal mortality has decreased from 62.8% to 26.8% since 2021, premature births have dropped from 8.6% to 7.8%, and child mortality has fallen from 4.34% to 3.9%.