Important Days: World Breastfeeding Week and World Lung Cancer Day 2026

World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) is observed every year from 1 to 7 August; the 2026 theme is 'Empowering Parents, Enabling Breastfeeding.' It was established by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) in 1991, commemorates the Innocenti Declaration of 1990, and is jointly promoted by WHO and UNICEF. In India, breastfeeding is promoted under the Mother's Absolute Affection (MAA) programme (launched 2016). Separately, World Lung Cancer Day is observed on 1 August, co-sponsored by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) and the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) to raise awareness on prevention and early detection; lung cancer is the world's leading cause of cancer death.