PHM-Exch> Joint WABA/LLLI statement in celebration of World Health Day 2018

Tue Apr 3 12:46:19 PDT 2018

From: Pei Ching Chuah <peiching.chuah at waba.org.my>

*Joint La Leche League International (LLLI) and the World Alliance for
Breastfeeding Action (WABA) Statement
<http://waba.org.my/universal-health-coverage-everyone-everywhere/> *

*in Celebration of World Health Day 2018: 7 April 2018*

“Universal health coverage: everyone, everywhere”

The World Health Organisation (WHO) was founded on the principle that all
people should be able to realise their right to the highest possible level
of health. World Health Day 2018 emphasises the fundamental importance of
Universal Health Coverage (UHC) to the health and well-being of all peoples
as well as to all countries. La Leche League International (LLLI) and the
World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) celebrate World Health Day
2018 and the concept of UHC which cuts across all of the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs).

Breastfeeding is an important factor in achieving the SDGs and is integral
to UHC. This year’s World Breastfeeding Week
<http://worldbreastfeedingweek.org> (WBW) focuses on Breastfeeding:
Foundation of Life. Breastfeeding and human milk are the biological norm
for a healthy start, supporting optimal health in both children and in
mothers and parents who lactate. Providing UHC can ensure that babies and
their parents have access to quality health care, especially breastfeeding
informed prenatal and newborn care, which are essential to helping them get
breastfeeding off to a good start.

Breastfeeding equalises the start to health for infants across countries
and families of every income level. It provides optimal nutrition in
infancy and the early years and reduces the burdens of malnutrition [Scherbaum
& Srour, 2016 <https://doi.org/10.1159/000442075>]. It also increases food
security for infants and young children and reduces the risk of hunger by
meeting each of the criteria for food security, “availability,
accessibility, utilisation and stability of supply of nutritionally
appropriate and acceptable quantities of food” [Salmon, 2015
<https://doi.org/10.1186/s13006-015-0029-6>]. Breastfeeding protects
against diarrhea, respiratory and other infections, which can be fatal.
Children who are breastfed for longer periods have higher cognitive
development, and reduced risk of common illnesses than those who are
breastfed for shorter periods [Victora et al., 2016
<https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(15)01024-7>].

Breastfeeding also supports mothers’ health, reducing risks of breast and
ovarian cancers [Victora et al., 2016
<https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(15)01024-7>], and maternal
cardiovascular disease [Peters et al., 2017
<https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.117.006081>]. Mothers who reach their
breastfeeding goals have half the risk of postnatal depression [Borra et al
2015 <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25138629>]. The longer that the
child is breastfed, the greater the benefits for all.

Not breastfeeding is associated with a significant global economic burden,
including an estimated US$14.2 billion in costs due to premature death in
the US [Bartick, 2017
<https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/mcn.12366>]. Increasing
breastfeeding rates could increase savings in healthcare costs in countries
worldwide (e.g., US$223.6 million in China and US$6.0 million in
Brazil [Rollins,
et al., 2016 <https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(15)01044-2>]; and US$118
million in Indonesia [Siregar et al., 2018
<https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5833067/>]). Estimated total
economic losses from cognitive deficits associated with not breastfeeding
amount to US$302 billion annually (0.49% of world gross national income,
GNI). [Rollins, et al., 2016 <https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(15)01044-2>].

Most importantly, breastfeeding saves lives. The lives of 823,000 children
could be saved every year and 20,000 mothers’ lives could be saved if
breastfeeding rates were improved [Victora et al., 2016
<http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(15)01024-7/fulltext>
].

Mothers and infants need support and care from family, community, health
systems, workplaces and government to breastfeed for as long as they
desire. UHC would increase maternal and child health through increased
access to improved quality prenatal care, birth in a baby-friendly facility
[Ogbo et al., 2015 <https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-1595-7>], and
continued skilled breastfeeding support.

WABA’s Warm Chain of Support for Breastfeeding
<http://waba.org.my/warm-chain/> links breastfeeding supporters at all
levels to provide a continuum of care for mothers and babies for the first
1,000 days [WABA, 2018 <http://waba.org.my/warm-chain/>]. Care begins long
before the baby is born and continues to 2 years old and beyond. Consistent
information and support throughout the warm chain will ensure that the
breastfeeding dyad benefits from ongoing support and skilled assistance.
All parents need access to up-to-date, accurate and evidence-based
information and high-quality support to make their own informed, autonomous
decisions about health.

Peer support in the community is vital to empower mothers to attain their
breastfeeding goals [Shakaya et al., 2017
<https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0177434>]. La Leche League
International (LLLI) and other peer breastfeeding support organisations
provide help in the community for mothers and families to continue
breastfeeding beyond the healthcare setting. LLLI’s mission is to help
mothers worldwide to breastfeed through mother-to-mother support,
encouragement, information, and education, and to promote a better
understanding of breastfeeding as an important element in the healthy
development of the baby and mother.

Breastfeeding and UHC go hand in hand. Family and maternal health care and
improvements in mother and baby-friendly practices in hospitals are
critical elements of UHC, while breastfeeding provides the foundation to
optimal health for infants, young children, and adults. Breastfeeding and
UHC can work together to support families to “realise their right to the
highest possible level of health.”

#HealthForAll #WorldHealthDay2018 #breastfeeding #UHC #WABA # LLLI #EBF6
#WarmChain #WHD2018 #WBW2018

-- 
*World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action*
P.O. Box 1200, 10850 Penang, Malaysia
Tel: 604 6584816 Fax: 604 6572655
Email: waba at waba.org.my
Websites: www.waba.org.my
             www.worldbreastfeedingweek.org
             www.breastfeedinggateway.org
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