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The World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) is WABA's main global campaign for social mobilization to generate public awareness and support for breastfeeding. WBW has the greatest outreach for the breastfeeding movement, involving over 120 countries. WBW is celebrated the world over on 1-7 August. However, some countries that found the dates unsuitable for their countries observe the week in different times of the year. If you are not sure when WBW is celebrated in your country, please contact the breastfeeding group nearest you. What is this year's theme for the WBW? The ability to communicate is something we learn very early in life. For example, the gentle kick in a mother's belly is a baby's first contact with the outside world. During breastfeeding, a baby's eye contact with its mother helps induce the "let-down" reflex and its suckling sends all kinds of information and signals to the right spots within the mother's body to produce more milk at the right time, right temperature and right amount for baby. Each year, new research reaffirms the importance of exclusive breastfeeding for about six months and continued breastfeeding while providing adequate complementary foods up to two years of life and beyond. Breastmilk provides optimal nourishment for infants and reduces the risks of certain diseases, including diarrhea, and respiratory tract (including pneumonia), ear, and urinary tract infections. The act of breastfeeding is an essential component of good child care, contributing to healthy growth and psychosocial development. Breastfeeding also reduces women's risk of breast and ovarian cancer, iron deficiency anemia, and hip fracture. Impact of new technologies interference with infant feeding occurs more and more often with the advent of new information and communication technologies and the exploitation by unethical business practices. While we recognize that such technologies can be exploited to negatively impact on lifestyles and consumption patterns undermining breastfeeding, we also acknowledge the great leaps they have made to facilitate speedier and more widespread distribution of information. Breastfeeding advocates must ensure that timely, accurate, relevant and culturally appropriate breastfeeding messages are conveyed. This year's WBW theme, Breastfeeding in the Information Age, underscores the importance of transforming and conveying the facts of breastfeeding via al the available forms of communication such as the internet, radio, TV, video, newspapers, cartoons, story telling, puppets, music, drama, role-play, flip charts and billboards.
NETPOP Project (Brazil) ORIGEM, a Brazilian breastfeeding and mother support group is working on a government-supported project which involves teaching computer skills and internet access to poor people for free. The are training 11,000 people in computer skills and have created four centers for free internet access in poor communities. Through Netpop, ORIGEM also conducts breastfeeding advocacy work, and promotes maternal nutrition. How can I organize the WBW in my country? WBW experiences in various countries have shown that better results are achieved and more people are involved when activities are well planned, organized and coordinated. The actions described here can be carried out in your neighborhood, your city, your state, or even your country. Wherever you are, it is important to plan ahead! Start acting now!
Go to the WABA page that lists suggestions for building an action plan. Join in the WBW e-group. WBW International Coordination: WABA Secretariat Above information taken from the WABA website. | |