Who We Are

World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) is a global network of individuals and organisations dedicated to the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding worldwide

WABA is in consultative status with UNICEF and an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC).

WABA works closely with many organisations and individuals. Our partners in this effort include: the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM)International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN), International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA), La Leche League International (LLLI), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organization (WHO), and several other international organisations.

Vision

To achieve a world where breastfeeding is the cultural norm, where mothers and families are enabled to feed and care optimally for their infants and young children thus contributing to a just and healthy society.

Mission

To protect, promote and support breastfeeding worldwide in the framework of the Innocenti Declarations (1990 and 2005) and the Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding through networking and facilitating collaborative efforts in social mobilisation, advocacy, information dissemination and capacity building.

Goal

To foster a strong and cohesive breastfeeding movement, which will act on the various international instruments to create an enabling environment for mothers, thus contributing to increasing optimal breastfeeding and infant and young child feeding practices.

Our Logo

The original logo, a well-known Picasso drawing of a breastfeeding mother, was adapted to form the logo of the Innocenti Declaration​ on the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding, which WABA acts on.

The mother and baby represent the importance of bonding and optimal care for children.

The frame of the logo signifies the support created in an enabling environment.

The 4 corners of the frame represent North, East, South and West – reflecting the global nature of WABA’s work.

To use the WABA logo, read our

guidelines

WABA Organisational Structure

The WABA Organisational Structure consists of the following levels:


Affiliates

WABA Affiliates are individuals or organisations who joined WABA to dedicate themselves to the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding. They are required to endorse the General Principles of WABA, submit an application form and to pay annual dues.


Partners

Partners are organisations that are committed to the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding as all or part of their work, and who want to collaborate with WABA. They are required to agree with WABA’s goal and mandate. They must become Affiliates, enter into a Partnership Agreement with WABA and sign a Conflict of Interest and a Confidentiality Declaration to undertake a programme of work for a specified period of time. The agreement is drawn up by the Secretariat and a prospective Partner and then approved by the WABA Steering Council (SC). Partners may be Global Partners, Regional Partners, or Country (or National) Partners.


Steering Council

Represents regions and is the main policy-setting and decision-making body of WABA.

Felicity-Savage

Felicity Savage

Advisor

Rukhsana

Rukhsana Haider

Advisor

Anwar

Dato Seri (Dr) Anwar Fazal

WABA Chairperson, Emeritus
WABA Local Board of Director
Representive of WABA Local Governance Council (LGC)

Nair Rosio Carrasco Sanez

Regional Representative (Latin America and the Caribbean)

Dr (PhD) Elisabeth Kyberg

Regional Representative (Europe)

Cathy Carothers

Regional Representative (North America)

Dexter Chagwena

Regional Representative
(Africa)

Dr Prashant Gangal

Regional Representative (Southeast Asia)

Janine Pinkham

Regional Representative (East Asia and the Pacific)

Local Governance Council

Serves the legal requirements of the WABA Berhad.

Anwar

Dato Seri (Dr) Anwar Fazal

WABA Chairperson, emeritus
WABA Local Board of Director
SC member representing LGC

Balkees

Dr Balkees Abdul Majeed

WABA Local Board of Director
Penang Mother to Mother Peer Support (Advisor)

Zaharah

Asso. Prof. Dr Zaharah Sulaiman (Phd)

Women’s Health Development Unit, Universiti Sains Malaysia (Head)

Jackie

Prof. Dr Jacqueline Ho

Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland & University College Dublin, Malaysia Campus (Professor and Head of Paediatrics)

Nadrah

Dr Nadrah Arifin

Malaysian Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Association (President)
Ministry of Health (Epidemiology Officer)

Rokiah

Rokiah Don

Nutrition Division, Ministry of Health (Former Director)

Dato’ Dr Narimah Awin

UNFPA Country Office Malaysia (Technical Advisor)

Dr Noor Haliza

Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist

International Advisory Council (IAC)

Provides expertise and advice on breastfeeding-related matters.

Secretariat

Manages WABA's activities.

amal

Amal Omer Salim

Executive Director

Sita-Letchmi

Sita Letchmi

Consultant, Administration, Finance & Governance

Brian

Brian Chan Hong Yew

Consultant, Accounts & Financial Services

Revathi

Revathi Ramachandran

Consultant, Program/Technical

Pei-Ching

Chuah Pei Ching

Consultant, Health & Information

devi

Derchana Devi

Consultant, Administration/Governance Assistance

Kaliswaran-Rao

Kaliswarran Rao

Consultant, Governance/Network

thina

Thinagaran Letchimanan

Consultant, EPC, Warm Chain & WBW

Valen

Valen Raj Kumaran

Consultant, Administrative/Governance

Nisha

Nisha Kumaravel

Consultant, WBW & Social Media

Collaborating Agencies/Organisations


lg_who
lg_unicef
lg_gbc
lg_ilc
no_aliveandthrive
lg_international midwives
lg_WhiteRibbonAlliance
lg_hki
lg_everywomaneverychild
lg_1000days
lg_unhcr
lg_cgbi
lg_WorldVision
lg_path
lg_mencare
lg_familyinitiative
lg_rcsiucd
lg_kanita
lg_girlsglobe
lg_bpni
lg_aiyingyiyuan

Sponsorship & Funding Policy

WABA does not accept funds or gifts from companies manufacturing, distributing or marketing breastmilk substitutes, related equipment such as feeding bottles and teats, and complementary foods.