Working mothers in government bodies, international organizations and private businesses are highly unlikely to fulfill the target of breastfeeding for the first 6-months of life, participants of an event have been told.

Last Friday, Aug 19, witnessed the celebration of World Breastfeeding Week by holding a gathering of more than 100 representatives of the Ministry of Health, the Lao Women’s Union, and the National Federation of Trade Unions in Vientiane Capital.

World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year in Aug in more than 120 countries to encourage breastfeeding and to improve the health of babies around the world.

This year, the theme for World Breastfeeding Week was “Breastfeeding, a key to sustainable development,” and highlighted the links to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

The WHO has also added to this year’s theme the importance of supporting mothers to breastfeed “Anytime, anywhere”.

“Breastfeeding is the best way to provide infants with all the nutrients and fluids they need in the first six months of their life,” said WHO Representative to Laos, Dr Juliet Fleischl.

The 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.

Breast milk is the nutrition that drives healthy growth and development, and does not burden household budgets compared to artificial feeding - important for SDG 1 (‘No poverty’). Breastfeeding ensures food security for infants - which is central to SDG 2 (‘Zero hunger’).  Optimal breastfeeding practices are the key to a strong and healthy workforce: the foundation for a country’s economic prosperity - linking to SDG 8 (‘Decent work and economic growth’).

Exclusive breastfeeding improves a child’s survival by six times when compared to a non-breastfed child.

It helps prevent diseases throughout the course of life: among infants, young children, adolescents, adults and the elderly.

It also reduces a woman’s risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

This clearly highlights the link to SDG 3 (‘Health and well-being’).

Breastfeeding contributes to mental and cognitive development, which promotes learning and prepares children for schools helping to achieve SDG 4 (‘Quality education’).

Despite overwhelming evidence that “breastfeeding is best”, only one in three babies are exclusively breastfed at the global level and only about 40 per cent in Laos.

In the new National Nutrition Strategy and Plan of Action for the Lao PDR, the government has set the target to increase exclusive breastfeeding to at least 50 per cent by 2025.

Source:
courtesy of KPL NEWS AGENCY

by KPL NEWS AGENCY

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