PHM-Exch> Breastfeeding: WABA 20th Anniversary

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: waba <waba at waba.org.my>

 *HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!  WABA is 20 this year!***





Dear WABA Participants and Network Friends,



On this occasion of Valentine, the WABA Secretariat wishes all our network
partners, WABA participants and friends around the world a very Happy
Birthday! 2011 marks the 20th Anniversary of WABA and 20 years of collective
effort, commitment, struggle and care for our joint mission to promote,
protect and support breastfeeding and optimal young child feeding worldwide.
On this date 20 years ago, WABA began as a global force for happiness,
riding on the impetus of the Innocenti Declaration of 1990 to bring about
the needed change for healthier mothers and babies, and by extension, a
better world. As a network of networks and organisations, the trust of
WABA’s work has been to provide common platforms for action and facilitate
collective action globally. The World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) has been one
such common action, already in its 19th year.



*Here comes the Breastfeeding Gateway!*



Now to celebrate 20 years, the WABA Secretariat is launching another major
effort that involves the collective contribution of the global breastfeeding
Core Partners in order to provide yet another service for the wider network.
This is the Breastfeeding Gateway! The Gateway team has worked hard to
ensure that this gift would be ready in time for WABA’s birthday so that all
involved can benefit. Here’s a message from the Gateway team:



*“Dear friends of the breastfeeding movement,*

* *

*Greetings from the WABA Secretariat!*

* *

*In conjunction with WABA's 20th Anniversary on 14 February 2011, WABA is
pleased to announce the launch of the Breastfeeding Gateway website (
www.bfgateway.org). With a multitude of breastfeeding information available
online, one may be overwhelmed by the abundance of resources, articles,
forums, and support services. This Gateway was developed as a
“one-stop-centre” that links you with up-to-date breastfeeding information
and related tools that already exist on the internet. You’ll be able to
refine your search from a comprehensive pool of relevant and accurate
breastfeeding resources based on your interests and needs. The Gateway will
help to mitigate the search process as it identifies several key resources
as a starting point for your navigation process. Ultimately, it minimises
the time spent searching so you can start learning!*

* *

*This gateway is still in its beta (testing) phase and will require some
fine-tuning to maximise its usability and effectiveness. The Gateway
Development Team (comprising of Sam Shng, Julianna Lim, Chuah Pei-Ching,
Denise Fisher (ILCA/WABA Fellow), and Katherine Houng) has developed this
Gateway based on an original template from Nand Wadhwani (WABA International
Advisory Council Member). They have spent the last few months researching
and compiling a thorough list of resources on a variety of breastfeeding
related topics drawing input from the WABA General Assembly and the
breastfeeding network, *

* *

*The gateway is NOT meant to replace any existing breastfeeding websites. If
anything, it will bring more traffic to these sites. It also differs from a
traditional website in that several of the sections are self-updating in
order to highlight the most up-to-date information. Our hope is that the
site will eventually become your home browser, a “gateway” to breastfeeding
advocacy, research, and awareness as it happens in real-time!*

* *

*Your feedback is very much appreciated on the content and links which will
help us continue to improve this service. We look forward to hearing from
you soon!*

* *

*All the best,*

* *

*The Gateway Development Team*

* *

*We welcome Contributions!*



20 years ago in the history of the breastfeeding movement, global financial
support from international agencies and Western governments was quite strong
and WABA, including other breastfeeding organisations, benefited from a
supportive donor environment. Unfortunately, such a climate is changing and
it has become increasingly challenging to raise funds for work on
breastfeeding and optimal young child feeding. This challenge has already
meant cutting or delaying some of our pre-planned activities. While our
fundraising efforts continue, WABA would like to make an appeal to everyone
who has benefited from being part of this network or connected in some way.
We would like to continue to provide relevant services and facilitate
actions deemed needed by the network. So if you feel you have been touched
by WABA and would like us to continue, consider making a contribution for
the network’s sustainability. Any amount is welcome! This can be done via
paypal on WABA’s website http://www.waba.org.my or you could write to us if
you would like to contribute in some other way.



The Secretariat is grateful to all those who have been contributing to WABA
over the years in various capacities, and thanks you for your consideration
of the above appeal. We hope that collectively we can continue our common
work in the years to come and with many more anniversaries to celebrate our
collective achievements!



With best wishes, success, joy and prosperity!





Sarah Amin

Executive Director

WABA Secretariat
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