“Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All”
World Breastfeeding Week, celebrated annually from August 1-7, is a global effort to promote and support breastfeeding. This year’s theme, “Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All,” highlights the importance of ensuring every mother has access to the support she needs to breastfeed successfully.
Breast milk is the ideal food for infants, providing essential nutrients and antibodies that protect against diseases. It comprises 87% water, 7% carbohydrate, 4% lipid, and 1% protein, vitamins, and other minerals (calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, sodium, etc). Research shows that breastfeeding can significantly reduce the risk of infant mortality and morbidity. According to the World Health Organization’s 2020 report, optimal breastfeeding (0–23 months) might save the lives of more than 820,000 children under five every year.
Breastfeeding can act as an equalizer in our society and efforts must be made to ensure everyone has access to breastfeeding support and opportunities. No one must be left behind especially vulnerable mothers who may need additional support to reduce breastfeeding inequalities.
Breastfeeding inequalities include Food insecurity, climate change, natural disasters, and geopolitical conflicts that have widened and deepened inequalities among vulnerable populations. In addition, lack of funding and appropriate policies, inadequate service delivery, and limited health system capacity have negatively impacted the promotion of breastfeeding (Tomori, 2023). This year aims to showcase the need to improve breastfeeding support to reduce inequalities that exist in Uganda with a special focus on breastfeeding in times of emergencies and crises.
As a leading nutrition organization in Kiryandongo, AFOD is committed to improving the health and well-being of mothers and children in emergencies (refugees) During World Breastfeeding Week, we will be hosting various activities to raise awareness about the benefits of breastfeeding and to provide support to mothers in our community.
Key World Breastfeeding Week Messages
- Breastfeeding is easier when everyone steps up to support mothers.
- Women everywhere have the right to respectful breastfeeding counseling from trained health care providers and support from family and community
- Breastfeeding can act as an equalizer in our society and efforts must be made to ensure everyone has access to breastfeeding support and opportunities. No one must be left behind especially vulnerable mothers who may need additional support to reduce breastfeeding inequalities.
- Lack of breastfeeding support during the critical first week negatively affects the overall breastfeeding intentions and prevalence
- Investing in breastfeeding to address inequalities is vital, especially in emergency.
- Protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding addresses inequalities that stand in the way of sustainable development.
#WorldBreastfeedingWeek #Closingthegap #BreastfeedingSupport #BreastfeedingSupportforall #ChildHealth #MaternalHealth
