PHA-Exchange> Happy World Breastfeeding Week 2007!

Tue Jul 31 23:52:07 PDT 2007

  Dear friends of breastfeeding,

  Today marks the first day of the 16th World Breastfeeding Week (WBW), happening on 1-7 August 2007. This year’s theme, which is Breastfeeding: The 1st Hour - Early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding for six months can save more than ONE million babies! An examination of 37 countries, covering some 60 per cent of the developing world population, by the Bellagio Child Survival Group, published in Lancet in 2003, has revealed an increase in the rate of exclusive breastfeeding from 34% to 41% in the first six months of children's lives. Some studies even suggest an additional 1.3 million children would be saved annually if this rate were increased to 90%, while neonatal mortality would be reduced by 22% when children are breastfed within an hour of birth. “In a world where more than 10 million children die before their firth birthday due to preventable causes, and where malnutrition is still rampant and associated with over half of all childhood deaths, there is simply no
 time to waste. Let’s start with the first hour,” said Dr. Margaret Chan, Director General of World Health Organization.

  Download Free WBW Materials
  As you are preparing to celebrate WBW, visit our website http://worldbreastfeedingweek.org to download materials and information including the Action Folder, whether you are writing articles for newspapers, would like to print them out to distribute or put up on your workplace’s notice board. 

  Photo Contest a Success!
  This year, WABA organized a Photo Contest, attracting over 200 entries! Visit http://worldbreastfeedingweek.org/wbw_2007_photo_contest.htm to view the winning photos.

  Witness the Breast Crawl!
  Every newborn, when placed on the mother’s abdomen, soon after birth, has the ability to find her mother’s breast all on her own and to decide when to take the first breastfeed. This is called the ‘Breast Crawl’. It is nature’s miraculous way of initiating breastfeeding. This project is undertaken by UNICEF Maharashtra and BPNI Maharashtra. Go to http://breastcrawl.org/ and download the free video documentary. 

  What is the Initiation Rate in Your Country?
  The State of the World's Breastfeeding Report Card, compiled by IBFAN Asia, shows the statistic on the initiation of breastfeeding within one hour. Go to http://www.ibfanasia.org/ to find out if your country has such info. If the rate is high, great! If it is low or no data at all, this is an opportunity for you to approach your health ministries on the importance of such crucial data!

  Synchronized Breastfeeding Worldwide Campaign
  Last year, Philippines broke the record for the Guinness World Record on Simultaneous Breastfeeding in a Single Site with 3,541 motherbabies in Manila. In total, more than 16,000 motherbabies breastfed throughout the Philippines simultaneously. This year, the organizing group Children for Breastfeeding, in partnership with WABA, is planning for the first ever attempt to foster cooperation among nations to set and break its own record and to achieve a common goal, beyond mere competition among nations for the Guinness World Records. The idea is simple: Organise at least 100 breastfeeding motherbabies at one site and be part of the network around the world! If you are interested to join in making history with this WBW project, please contact Children for Breastfeeding children_for_breastfeeding at yahoo.com and WABA waba at streamyx.com.  Visit http://www.breastfeedingworld.net/ for more info. 

  What’s Happening in your Country?
  Go to http://worldbreastfeedingweek.org/worldwide.htm to find out who does what where. If you would like to announce your event, please send a synopsis (a paragraph) on what you are planning to do, when and where, to waba at streamyx.com.

  Happy World Breastfeeding Week 2007!  

  Best wishes,
  Liew Mun Tip
  International WBW Coordinator

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The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) is a global network of individuals and organisations concerned with the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding worldwide based on the Innocenti Declarations, the Ten Links for Nurturing the Future and the WHO/UNICEF Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding. Its core partners are International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN), La Leche League International (LLLI), International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA), Wellstart International and Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM). WABA is in consultative status with UNICEF and an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC). 

  WABA, PO Box 1200, 10850 Penang, Malaysia
Tel: 604-658 4816 Fax: 604-657 2655
Email: waba at streamyx.com
Websites: www.waba.org.my, http://worldbreastfeedingweek.org 

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