Save the Children’s new report, Superfood for Babies, estimates that breastfeeding immediately after birth could save the lives of 830,000 babies around the world every year. The report explains that earlier breastfeeding is also associated with exclusive breastfeeding through the first six months of a child’s life – which is a protective measure against diseases, including pneumonia and diarrhea. The document also describes the barriers that often prevent mothers from breastfeeding, including societal and cultural beliefs, access to healthcare, and a marketing emphasis on formula. The report can be viewed online here.

Leading child health agencies have joined forces to announce plans to work together on an unprecedented scale to increase access to amoxicillin in dispersible tablet form – the recommended antibiotic treatment for children under five suffering from pneumonia.*

In 2011, a staggering 1.3 million children died from pneumonia, making it the leading killer of children under five. Despite the existence of low-cost and highly effective antibiotics, less than one third of children with suspected pneumonia use antibiotics and a tiny minority receive amoxicillin in the ideal form for small children – a tablet that dissolves in liquid.