PHM-Exch> Breastfeeding: WABA 21st Anniversary Statement

[Claudio Schuftan]

WORLD ALLIANCE FOR BREASTFEEDING ACTION

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

**


*WABA turns 21!*****

*Meeting the Challenges - Nurturing the Future***

** **

While some of us may remember, there are many who may not be aware that the
World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) was born on the evening of
14 February 1991 – yes, on Valentine’s Day - in a little restaurant in
downtown New York, following a UNICEF meeting to follow up on the Innocenti
Declaration 1990, and formulate strategies for a coordinated global effort
to protect, promote and support breastfeeding, with 17 national and
international groups participating.  Current Chairperson Emiritus Dato’
Anwar Fazal, who thought of the idea of WABA and also the name, stated at
that time, *"the UNICEF meeting showed us how much each group was doing.  More
importantly, it showed how much more needed to be done and that there was a
real urgency for popular mobilisation on a scale we had never before dared
to dream."*

** **

On this date 21 years ago, WABA began as a global force for happiness,
riding on the impetus of the Innocenti Declaration to bring about the
needed change for healthier mothers and babies, and by extension, a better
world.  WABA was created as the people’s force to mobilize actions to
protect, promote and support breastfeeding.  As a network of networks and
organisations, the trust of WABA’s work has been to provide common
platforms to facilitate collective action globally, the World Breastfeeding
Week campaign being the main avenue. ****

** **

WABA‘s inception was essentially the peoples response to the on-going
challenges of the "bottle baby scandal" and the undermining of
breastfeeding cultures across the world.  Through the years, WABA has in
collaboration with its Core Partners and members of the broader network
worked to uphold fundamental aspects of its goals, and has asserted that
the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (4 and 5) set forth in
2000, requires increasing rates of early, exclusive and continued
breastfeeding, protected, promoted and supported in the context of women’s
empowerment, sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender equality
and, poverty reduction.****

** **

Twenty one years on, WABA’s work for breastfeeding faces new critical
challenges.  According to UNICEF’s State of the World’s Children Report
2011, 136.7 million babies are born worldwide and 32.6 % of them are
breastfed exclusively in the first 6 months – a figure that hasn’t
significantly changed globally over the years.  As we work with our
partners to stem the influence and power of the babyfood industry, the
complementary work of supporting mothers to breastfeed, and stimulating
mass public mobilization and information outreach to galvanize support for
breastfeeding becomes increasingly vital.****

** **

Globally, the specter of severe environmental degradation and dire
implications of climate change looms large now and for years to come.  Studies
have noted that the carbon footprint created by the formula-milk industry –
from sourcing, producing, and packaging its products, to the effects of how
it is used, destroyed or recycled – and the associated environmental costs
are massive.  Breastfeeding is thoroughly eco-friendly , and has a far
smaller carbon footprint than breastmilk substitutes.  These environmental
concerns are compounded by increasing incidences of natural disasters (both
natural and man-made) that have wreaked havoc across the globe.  It is well
recognized that breastfeeding can provides safe and sustainable food for
infants and young children in emergencies (both natural and mand-made),
while its high immunity capabilities can protect against diarrhoea and
respiratory infections among others.  This highlights the need to ensure
adequate care and nutrition of pregnant and lactating women.  It is also
very clear that within efforts to address climate change and environmental
disasters, the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding are even
more critical for us as a movement.  ****

** **

Another predicament facing us in the 21st Century is the crisis of an
increase in non-communicable diseases (NCD) including obesity, especially
childhood obesity.  Cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and
respiratory disease accounts for around 20% of the world's disease burden
(over 300 million disability-adjusted life years lost annually).  In 2010
the estimated number of overweight children under the age of five totalled
42 million, with 35 million children coming from the developing world.  The
WHO notes that childhood obesity is one of the most serious public health
challenges facing humankind globally.  Associated with development of NCDs
in adulthood, childhood obesity is attributable to several factors, but
there is growing evidence that childhood obesity is also related to feeding
practices in infancy and the early part of life.  Recent studies show that
there is a positive preventive association between breastfeeding and long
term healthy weight maintenance.****

** **

We are faced with the added challenges of even more aggressive marketing of
baby foods and milks (ie. of follow on formulas and growing up milks) for
children of 1, 2, 3, 6 and more years; and of integrating employment/paid
work with child care and breastfeeding, especially by women in lower income.
A key aspect to overcoming these challenges is informing, educating and
engaging young people in breastfeeding advocacy so as to expand our global
force for happiness.  This is why one of WABA's major priority for the
future is nurturing and mobilising young people in our issues, actions and
campaigns to protect, promote and support breastfeeding.  We therefore have
the great pleasure to announce the launch of WABA’s most recent video “Feed
the Future”, an outcome of the the WBW 2011 and workshops for young people
in Penang, Malaysia.  See WABA website:  http://www.waba.org.my/ ****

** **

The Secretariat is grateful to all those who have been contributing to WABA
over the years in various capacities, and look forward to continue working
with you to meet the challenges ahead.  Within the current financial
climate it has become increasingly difficult to raise funds for work on
breastfeeding and optimal young child feeding. We hope that you will
consider making a contribution for the network’s sustainability on our 21st
Anniversary.  Collectively we can continue our common work in the years to
come and with many more anniversaries to celebrate our combined
achievements!  ****

** **

*Sarah Amin, WABA Executive Director*

** **

** **

*References: *

1) “State of the World’s Children Report 2011” UNICEF, *(*
http://www.unicef.org/sowc2011/fullreport.php*)*
2) “What's your milk worth?” *(*
http://info.babymilkaction.org/news/campaignblog070310*). * 3) World
Breastfeeding Week 2009, “Breastfeeding: A Vital Emergency Response Are you
ready?”, *(*http://worldbreastfeedingweek.net/wbw2009/index.htm*)*,  and
“Breastfeeding: a vital emergency response. Are you ready?” Statement by
WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan, 31 July 2009 *(*
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2009/world_breastfeeding_week_20090731/en/
*)*

4) “Childhood overweight and obesity”, *(*
http://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/childhood/en/*);* “Does Formula
Feeding contribute to childhood obesity?” *(*
http://www.cseindia.org/node/3715*)*, Koletzko B et al, Am J Clin Nutr
2009;89 (suppl) :1S-7S; and Monasta L et al, Obesity Reviews
2010;11:695–708.****
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