WORLD ALLIANCE FOR BREASTFEEDING ACTION<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">From: <b class="gmail_sendername">waba</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:waba@waba.org.my">waba@waba.org.my</a>></span><br><br><u></u>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="BACKGROUND:white;MARGIN:0in 0in 0pt;LINE-HEIGHT:normal;TEXT-ALIGN:center" align="center"><b><span style="FONT-SIZE:22pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial" lang="MS">WABA
turns 21!</span></b><span style="FONT-SIZE:22pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial" lang="MS"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="BACKGROUND:white;MARGIN:0in 0in 0pt;LINE-HEIGHT:normal;TEXT-ALIGN:center" align="center"><b><span style="FONT-SIZE:14pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial" lang="MS">Meeting
the Challenges - Nurturing the Future</span></b><b><span style="FONT-SIZE:8.5pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial" lang="MS"><u></u><u></u></span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="BACKGROUND:white;MARGIN:0in 0in 0pt;LINE-HEIGHT:normal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY:Arial" lang="MS">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.<span> </span>Current Chairperson
Emiritus Dato’ Anwar Fazal, who thought of the idea of WABA and also the name,
stated at that time, <i>"the UNICEF meeting showed us how much each group was
doing.<span> </span>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."<u></u><u></u></i></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0in 0in 0pt;LINE-HEIGHT:normal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY:Arial" lang="MS">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.<span> </span>WABA was created as the people’s force
to mobilize actions to protect, promote and support breastfeeding.<span> </span>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. <u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="BACKGROUND:white;MARGIN:0in 0in 0pt;LINE-HEIGHT:normal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY:Arial" lang="MS">WABA‘s
inception was <span>essentially</span> the
peoples response to the on-going challenges of the "bottle baby scandal" and the
undermining of breastfeeding cultures across the world.<span> </span>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.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="BACKGROUND:white;MARGIN:0in 0in 0pt;LINE-HEIGHT:normal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY:Arial" lang="MS">Twenty
one years on, WABA’s work for breastfeeding faces new critical challenges.<span> </span>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.<span> </span>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.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="BACKGROUND:white;MARGIN:0in 0in 0pt;LINE-HEIGHT:normal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY:Arial" lang="MS">Globally,
the specter of severe environmental degradation and dire implications of climate
change looms large now and for years to come.<span> </span>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.<span> </span>Breastfeeding is thoroughly eco-friendly
, and has a far smaller carbon footprint than breastmilk substitutes.<span> </span>These environmental concerns are
compounded by increasing incidences of natural disasters (both natural and
man-made) that have wreaked havoc across the globe.<span> </span>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.<span> </span>This highlights the need to ensure
adequate care and nutrition of pregnant and lactating women.<span> </span>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.<span> </span><u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0in 0in 0pt;LINE-HEIGHT:normal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY:Arial" lang="MS">Another
predicament facing us in the 21st Century is the crisis of an increase in
non-communicable diseases (NCD) including obesity, especially childhood
obesity.<span> </span>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).<span> </span>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.<span> </span>The WHO notes that childhood obesity is
one of the most serious public health challenges facing humankind globally.
<span> </span>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.<span>
</span>Recent studies show that there is a positive preventive association
between breastfeeding and long term healthy weight
maintenance.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="BACKGROUND:white;MARGIN:0in 0in 0pt;LINE-HEIGHT:normal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY:Arial" lang="MS">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.<span> </span>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.<span> </span>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.<span> </span>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<span style="COLOR:#454545">.<span> </span></span>See
WABA website:<span> </span><a href="http://www.waba.org.my/" target="_blank">http://www.waba.org.my/</a>
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="BACKGROUND:white;MARGIN:0in 0in 0pt;LINE-HEIGHT:normal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY:Arial" lang="MS">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.<span> </span>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.<span> </span>Collectively we
can continue our common work in the years to come and with many more
anniversaries to celebrate our combined achievements!<span> </span><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="BACKGROUND:white;MARGIN:0in 0in 0pt;LINE-HEIGHT:normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE:8.5pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial" lang="MS"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="BACKGROUND:white;MARGIN:0in 0in 0pt;LINE-HEIGHT:normal"><b><span style="FONT-FAMILY:Arial" lang="MS">Sarah
Amin, WABA Executive Director<u></u><u></u></span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0in 0in 0pt;LINE-HEIGHT:normal"><i><span style="FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><font size="-0">References: <u></u><u></u></font></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0in 0in 0pt;LINE-HEIGHT:normal"><font><font size="-0"><span>1) “State of the World’s Children Report 2011”
UNICEF, <span style="FONT-SIZE:9pt;COLOR:windowtext;FONT-FAMILY:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u>(</u></span></span><span><a href="http://www.unicef.org/sowc2011/fullreport.php" target="_blank"><span style="COLOR:windowtext" lang="MS">http://www.unicef.org/sowc2011/fullreport.php</span></a><span style="FONT-SIZE:9pt;COLOR:windowtext;FONT-FAMILY:Arial" lang="MS"><u>)<u></u><u></u></u></span></span></font></font></p>
<h1 style="BACKGROUND:white;MARGIN:0in 0in 0pt;VERTICAL-ALIGN:baseline;LINE-HEIGHT:normal"><font><font size="-0"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT:normal;FONT-SIZE:9pt;COLOR:windowtext;FONT-FAMILY:Arial" lang="MS">2)
</span><span>“What's your milk worth?” <span style="FONT-WEIGHT:normal;FONT-SIZE:9pt;COLOR:windowtext;FONT-FAMILY:Arial" lang="MS"><u>(</u></span></span><span><a href="http://info.babymilkaction.org/news/campaignblog070310" target="_blank"><span style="COLOR:windowtext" lang="MS">http://info.babymilkaction.org/news/campaignblog070310</span></a><span style="FONT-WEIGHT:normal;FONT-SIZE:9pt;COLOR:windowtext;FONT-FAMILY:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u>).
<u></u><u></u></u></span></span></font></font></h1>
<h1 style="BACKGROUND:white;MARGIN:0in 0in 0pt;VERTICAL-ALIGN:baseline;LINE-HEIGHT:normal"><font><font size="-0"><span>3) World Breastfeeding Week 2009, “Breastfeeding: A
Vital Emergency Response Are you ready?”, <span style="FONT-WEIGHT:normal;FONT-SIZE:9pt;COLOR:windowtext;FONT-FAMILY:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u>(</u></span></span><span><a href="http://worldbreastfeedingweek.net/wbw2009/index.htm" target="_blank"><span style="COLOR:windowtext" lang="MS">http://worldbreastfeedingweek.net/wbw2009/index.htm</span></a><span style="FONT-WEIGHT:normal;FONT-SIZE:9pt;COLOR:windowtext;FONT-FAMILY:Arial" lang="MS"><u>)</u></span></span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT:normal;FONT-SIZE:9pt;COLOR:windowtext;FONT-FAMILY:Arial" lang="EN-GB">,
</span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT:normal;FONT-SIZE:9pt;COLOR:windowtext;FONT-FAMILY:Arial" lang="MS"><span> </span>and “Breastfeeding: a vital emergency
response. Are you ready?” Statement by WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan, 31
July 2009</span><span> <span style="FONT-WEIGHT:normal;FONT-SIZE:9pt;COLOR:windowtext;FONT-FAMILY:Arial" lang="MS"><u>(</u></span></span><span><a href="http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2009/world_breastfeeding_week_20090731/en/" target="_blank"><span style="COLOR:windowtext" lang="MS">http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2009/world_breastfeeding_week_20090731/en/</span></a><span style="FONT-WEIGHT:normal;FONT-SIZE:9pt;COLOR:windowtext;FONT-FAMILY:Arial" lang="MS"><u>)<u></u><u></u></u></span></span></font></font></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0in 0in 0pt;LINE-HEIGHT:normal"><font><font size="-0"><span style="FONT-SIZE:9pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial" lang="MS">4)</span><span style="FONT-SIZE:9pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial" lang="MS">
“Childhood overweight and obesity”,</span><span> <span style="FONT-SIZE:9pt;COLOR:windowtext;FONT-FAMILY:Arial" lang="MS"><u>(</u></span></span><span><a href="http://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/childhood/en/" target="_blank"><span style="COLOR:windowtext" lang="MS">http://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/childhood/en/</span></a><span style="FONT-SIZE:9pt;COLOR:windowtext;FONT-FAMILY:Arial" lang="MS"><u>);</u></span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE:9pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial" lang="EN-GB"> “Does
Formula Feeding contribute to childhood obesity?” </span><span><span style="FONT-SIZE:9pt;COLOR:windowtext;FONT-FAMILY:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u>(</u></span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE:9pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.cseindia.org/node/3715" target="_blank"><span style="COLOR:windowtext">http://www.cseindia.org/node/3715</span></a><span><span style="COLOR:windowtext"><u>)</u></span></span><span>,</span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE:9pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial" lang="EN-GB">
</span><span><span style="FONT-SIZE:9pt;FONT-FAMILY:Arial" lang="EN-GB">Koletzko B et al, Am J Clin Nutr
2009;89 (suppl) :1S-7S; and Monasta L et al, Obesity Reviews
2010;11:695–708.</span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><u></u><u></u></span></font></font></p></div></div><br><br><br>