Highlighting the first 1000 days of life on World Health Day

2025-05-28

In a mix of of science, tradition, and advocacy, ReAct Latin America marked World Health Day with the seminar "Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures," emphasizing the transformative impact of the first 1000 days of life — from conception to a child’s second birthday. The event brought together healthcare professionals, indigenous midwives, and policymakers to address urgent challenges in maternal and child health, including excessive medicalization, the microbiome’s role, and the need for culturally respectful care.

The first 1000 days campaign

The RLA campaign aims to unite communities, healthcare professionals, and policymakers to make the first 1,000 days of a newborn child a public health priority. The campaign advocates respecting the natural timing of birth to reduce unnecessary Cesareans birth procedures and promotes rational antibiotic use during the first 1,000 days.

It also calls for greater  investment in women’s health and well-being and engaging families and communities in infant care.

The microbiome: A foundation for lifelong health

Dr. Arturo Quizhpe, Director, ReAct Latin America, illuminated the microbiome’s critical role during the first 1000 days. Comparing it to a diverse ecosystem, he explained how vaginal birth, breastfeeding, and skin-to-skin contact seed a baby’s microbiome with beneficial bacteria.

“Cesarean sections disrupt this balance, increasing risks for allergies, obesity, and autoimmune diseases,” he noted.

Dr. Quizhpe’s call to action – “Harmony within us mirrors harmony in the world” – resonated as a plea for policies protecting this fragile biological window.

Antibiotics and cultural dissonance in healthcare

Bolivian intercultural physician Viviana Camacho bridged Western medicine and ancestral wisdom, condemning the overuse of antibiotics during pregnancy and infancy. “Like dead soil, a womb stripped of microbes cannot nurture life,” she said, linking antibiotic overuse to bacterial resistance and disrupted microbiomes. Camacho advocated for policies that value traditional healers, midwives, and community-based care, stating: “Health systems must stop fragmenting the body and start healing the whole person.”

Breastfeeding a cornerstone of health

The panel unanimously championed breastfeeding as a cornerstone of health, immunity, and bonding. Yet, as Dr. Rodríguez noted, structural barriers – such as lack of workplace support and medical violence – often derail it. “Breast milk is living alchemy, adapting to a baby’s needs,” she said, lamenting its undervaluation by health systems.

The discussion underscored the need for policies guaranteeing paid maternity leave, lactation spaces, and education to combat misinformation.

A unified vision: Policy change rooted in tenderness

The seminar closed with a bold vision: public health must prioritize the first 1000 days of life through evidence-based, compassionate policies. Participants called for:

• Reducing unnecessary Cesareans through guidelines and provider accountability.
• Protecting the microbiome by promoting vaginal birth, breastfeeding, and prudent antibiotic use.
• Integrating traditional and scientific knowledge to decolonize maternal care.
• Investing in primary healthcare and community education to empower families.

As ReAct Latin America advances its advocacy campaign — including radio programs, documentaries, and World Breastfeeding Week activities — the message is clear: healthy beginnings are a matter of justice, and rewriting this chapter can transform humanity’s future.