This was highlighted by UNICEF Pacific Chief of Health and Nutrition Yuki Suehiro during World Breastfeeding Week commemorations at CWM Hospital. She says breastfeeding can also support cognitive development, learning and healthy brain function, making it both a nutrition and early childhood development intervention. However, Suehiro says while Fiji performs reasonably well in initiating breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding rates remain lower than desired. She says families, workplaces, communities and the health system must work together to ensure mothers receive accurate, compassionate and evidence-based support. UNICEF is also calling for stronger Baby-Friendly Hospital initiatives and greater investment in health workers so breastfeeding support continues from pregnancy through childbirth and throughout the first 1,000 days.