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The theme for World Breastfeeding Week 2026, "Breastfeeding for a sustainable start in life: strengthening what works," is linked to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1. This SDG addresses the goal of ending poverty by 2030.

It relates to breastfeeding because breastfeeding:

- Provides optimal nutrition for children, serving as an unparalleled biological foundation for early childhood.

- Promotes food security, as breast milk is a natural, renewable, and self-sufficient resource that requires no transportation, packaging, or fuel.

Given the benefits of breastfeeding for children, breastfeeding women, their families, the global economy, and the environment, World Breastfeeding Week is observed annually from August 1 to 7 to raise awareness and spur action on breastfeeding-related issues. T

he World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) launched this observance in 1992 to commemorate the 1990 Innocenti Declaration—an international agreement adopted by the WHO and UNICEF in Florence, Italy, aimed at protecting, promoting, and supporting exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life.

In 2026, the theme for World Breastfeeding Week is "Breastfeeding for a sustainable start in life: strengthening what works."

Many practices have been shown to improve breastfeeding outcomes:

- Skilled counseling on infant and young child feeding

- Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative

- National mass media campaigns

- International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes

- Paid maternity leave

- Workplace breastfeeding support

Treatment to prevent congenital syphilis is considered adequate if it is initiated 30 days before delivery. This regimen prevents congenital syphilis.

Additionally, the pregnant woman must receive treatment based on the staging of the case:

Primary, secondary, and early latent syphilis:

■ 1 dose of benzathine penicillin (2,400,000 IU IM).

Syphilis of unknown duration, late latent, and tertiary syphilis:

■ 3 doses of benzathine penicillin (2,400,000 IU IM), with one-week intervals between doses.

Syphilis during pregnancy can cause serious complications such as miscarriage, premature birth, and low birth weight.

If syphilis is not properly treated, it can lead to severe consequences for the baby, including brain damage, organ problems, or stillbirth.

Diagnostic tests for syphilis are classified into treponemal tests (TT) and non-treponemal tests (NTT).

NTT include the VDRL (Venereal Disease Research Laboratory), USR (VDRL modified for unheated serum), and RPR (Rapid Plasma Reagin, involving the addition of carbon particles and macroscopic reading). These tests measure antibodies produced in response to the infection.

Syphilis can be prevented through the correct and consistent use of condoms, which significantly reduces the risk of infection. Key to this is the availability of condoms within prenatal care services and their use promotion.

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by a bacterium (*Treponema pallidum*) that spreads through contact with sores during unprotected sex.

Symptoms can include painless sores, rashes, and flu-like symptoms.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has updated regional syphilis estimates for the Americas. An estimated 4.2 million new syphilis cases occurred in 2024 - 500,000 more than in 2022 - representing a 15% increase. Ninety percent of these new cases were concentrated in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Moreover, the estimated syphilis prevalence in pregnant women in LAC has been rising steadely, with estimated prevalence reaching 2,1% in 2024, up from 1,4% in 2019.

Newborns, and children deserve safe care tailored to every stage of their lives.

Health professionals: your role is key to preventing avoidable harm.