Africa-Press – Botswana. The World Breastfeeding Week starts today and runs until Sunday, the 7th, under the motto “Strengthen Breastfeeding by Educating and Supporting”, in a celebration that includes lectures and training sessions.
The date, celebrated annually in August, on the recommendation of the World Health Organization (WHO), with the support of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), draws attention, this year, to the urgency of adequate nutrition in early childhood. , in order to ensure the proper growth and development of children.
The Lucrécia Paim Maternity intends to carry out various activities throughout the week, to celebrate the anniversary, through the Human Milk Bank (BLH), created to reduce infant mortality.
Under the coordination of pediatrician-neonatologist Elisa Gaspar, the HMB is made up of a multi-professional team that works to give quality control to human milk and the cause of breastfeeding.
Created almost three years ago, during the pandemic, BHL had to resort to donations and the help of women from the Civil Protection and Fire Service to face the reduction in donors, due to confinement. At the time, 150 firefighters were made available for service.
The HMB is intended for the collection, storage and donation of breast milk to premature babies, especially those whose mothers, for some reason, are unable to breastfeed. The HMB professionals have also made parturients aware of the importance of breastfeeding during the first two years of a child’s life.
“Innocenti’s Declaration”
The history of Breastfeeding Week began in 1990, at a meeting between the member countries of the World Health Organization, with the support of UNICEF, in which a document known as the “Innocenti Declaration” was generated.
In order to fulfill the commitments assumed with the signing of this document, the World Alliance for Pro-Breastfeeding Action was founded in 1991, which established, a year later, the World Breastfeeding Week, an event celebrated every year in August, under the a topic related to the subject.
By the date, the month of August is known as “Golden August”, for symbolizing the fight to encourage breastfeeding. The golden color, as explained by WHO and UNICEF, is related to the “gold standard of quality” of breast milk.
During this event, activities and training activities are carried out to promote issues related to breastfeeding.
Last year the date was celebrated under the motto “Support breastfeeding for a healthier planet” and its main goals were to inform people about the links between breastfeeding and the environment, as well as the effects of climate change.
Breastfeeding, according to WHO and UNICEF, is one of the best investments to save children’s lives and improve the health, social and economic development of people and nations. Through breast milk, the baby receives antibodies from the mother that protect it against diseases such as diarrhea and infections, especially respiratory ones.
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