SOYDA Launched the Kick off World Breastfeeding Week 1-7 August 2023 through provision outreach awareness campaigns in Mogadishu and Lower shabelle IDPs in our project areas as part of scaling up and reaching more IDPs to promote Breastfeeding Week and advocating for and informing people of the economic, environmental, and health implications of promoting optimal breastfeeding. The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) has announced the 2023 theme: Enabling breastfeeding – making a difference for working parents,
World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from 1 to 7 August to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world. It commemorates the Innocenti Declaration signed in August 1990 by government policymakers, WHO, UNICEF and other organizations to protect, promote and support breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding is the best way to provide infants with the nutrients they need. WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding starting within one hour after birth until a baby is 6 months old. Nutritious complementary foods should then be added while continuing to breastfeed for up to 2 years or beyond. Scientifically breastfed babies are more intelligent and healthier than babies who were not breastfed in childhood. Breast Milk is considered as the best food for newly born babies as it contains antibodies, which are essential to cure babies from severe diseases. So the main objective of celebrating the WBW is to educate parents about the benefits of breastfeeding and encourage them to adopt it.
Despite these clear benefits, research has found that returning to work without adequate support mechanisms can hamper optimal breastfeeding practices. Breastfeeding support is therefore essential for the health and development of children, for mothers and society. The provision of workplace breastfeeding rooms, paid nursing breaks and an enabling breastfeeding environment and culture are low-cost interventions that can contribute to improve breastfeeding, job productivity and employee retention.
