The Ministry of Health has launched its first breastfeeding policy at Vaiola Hospital, placing early infant feeding at the centre of efforts to prevent non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

The policy, launched on Thursday, commits the referral hospital to the WHO and UNICEF Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding. It requires skin-to-skin contact, at least one hour of breastfeeding support after birth, 24-hour mother-and-baby contact and formula feeding only when medically indicated and explained.

The Ministry says only 37.9% of babies are breastfed within their first hour, while 32% are exclusively breastfed at six months. Tonga’s 2019 MICS recorded early initiation at 38.5% and exclusive breastfeeding under six months at 39.6%, indicating the figures remain a concern.

Health Minister Hon Hu’akavameiliku said mothers should be supported to begin breastfeeding in the first hour rather than being left to manage alone, describing this as an opportunity for NCD prevention.

WHO says breastfeeding-support measures such as the Ten Steps can improve early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding rates.

The policy comes as Tonga faces an NCD burden. WHO data put obesity at 71.7% in 2022, while Tonga told the Health Assembly in 2025 that 83% of deaths were from NCDs.

The Ministry says the Vaiola policy is intended as a model for other maternity units, while work continues on a national breastfeeding policy. It will be audited annually and reviewed in 2029.