<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large"><br></div>From: <b class="gmail_sendername" dir="auto">Pei Ching Chuah</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:peiching.chuah@waba.org.my">peiching.chuah@waba.org.my</a>></span><br><div class="gmail_quote"><br><div dir="ltr"><div style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><span id="m_7113649272272700556gmail-docs-internal-guid-a2432789-7fff-4d94-3e58-90c7881471a9"><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.295;margin-top:18pt;margin-bottom:4pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:Calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Greetings on WABA’s 28th Anniversary!</span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.295;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">On Valentine’s day, 28 years ago World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) was born. WABA has grown from over the years in terms of the network and the range of issues covered. One consistent activity has been World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) which is now recognised by the World Health Assembly. WBW is celebrated in over 170 countries and engages millions of people in all walks of life. Another key activity has been the Breastfeeding Advocacy and Practice (BAP) course which has trained resource persons in over 30 countries worldwide. The momentum for action that has been raised will help ensure that more children are breastfed and get the best start in life. Creating a warm chain of support across the 1000 days from pregnancy to the child’s second birthday and empowering parents with information and support are some of the strategies for the future. </span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.295;margin-top:14pt;margin-bottom:4pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Revamped WABA website </span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.295;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The</span><a href="http://waba.org.my/" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> revamped WABA Website</span></a><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> is here! We have revamped our website to make it more user-friendly and interactive. We hope that the website will now act as a platform to engage with others working to protect, promote and support breastfeeding globally. In line with our role as an alliance, we will continue to provide you with updated and relevant information, as well as connect you with our pool of experts. Participate in our </span><a href="http://waba.org.my/" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">weekly poll</span></a><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, view our </span><a href="http://waba.org.my/activity/" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">latest activities</span></a><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, </span><a href="http://waba.org.my/#take-action" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">take action</span></a><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> in our global campaigns, </span><a href="http://waba.org.my/#be-empowered" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">be empowered</span></a><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> through our capacity-building platforms, </span><a href="http://waba.org.my/#get-involved" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">get involved</span></a><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> in our work, </span><a href="http://waba.org.my/donations/donate/" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">contribute</span></a><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> financially to the cause, </span><a href="http://waba.org.my/subscribe-waba/" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">sign up</span></a><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> for updates and news, </span><a href="http://waba.org.my/contact-us/" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">contact us</span></a><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> if you have questions, or visit our </span><a href="http://waba.org.my/?wabares=v4&s=" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Resource Hub</span></a><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> - a repository of materials and resources by WABA and our partners. Visit our website to discover the full spectrum of functions, and don’t forget to provide your feedback on the website or by emailing us at </span><a href="mailto:waba@waba.org.my" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;color:rgb(5,99,193);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">waba@waba.org.my</span></a><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. We look forward to staying connected! </span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.295;margin-top:14pt;margin-bottom:4pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">World Breastfeeding Week (#WBW2019)  </span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.295;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Gender-equitable parental social protection in all its forms can help enable breastfeeding. The </span><a href="https://waba.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9c4737de875c6fa12b87991e8&id=383bf531e5&e=49f0c54a12" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;color:rgb(43,170,223);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">#WBW2019</span></a><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> slogan is </span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Empower Parents, Enable Breastfeeding</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. The objectives of WBW 2019 are to:</span></p><ul style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.295;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:10pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Inform people about the links between gender-equitable parental social protection and breastfeeding </span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.295;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:10pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Anchor parent-friendly values and gender-equitable social norms at all levels to support breastfeeding</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.295;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:10pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Engage with individuals and organisations for greater impact</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.295;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:10pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Galvanise action on gender-equitable parental social protection to advance breastfeeding </span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.295;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The #WBW2019 logo is now ready. WABA will be offering some support to innovative activities through the WBW2019 Seed Grants Project. Stay tuned for more information on our #WBW2019 Poster, Website, Action Folder and other relevant resources! </span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.295;margin-top:14pt;margin-bottom:4pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Partnerships </span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.295;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt;text-align:justify"><a href="http://innocenti15.net/inno.htm" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Protecting, promoting and supporting</span></a><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> breastfeeding worldwide requires that we work together. </span><a href="http://waba.org.my/about-waba/" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">WABA’s role</span></a><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> as an alliance involves being responsive to our network, as well as expanding the alliance by working with diverse stakeholders at different levels. We recently undertook an extensive governance review.  Improvements in terms of governance structure, communication, and strategies to respond to the current </span><a href="https://www.who.int/nutrition/publications/infantfeeding/global-bf-scorecard-2018/en/" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">breastfeeding landscape</span></a><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> will be implemented in the near future. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.295;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The WABA 2018 Global Breastfeeding Partners Meeting (GBPM2018) brought together more than </span><a href="http://waba.org.my/about-waba/" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">25 global partners</span></a><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> to develop innovative and impactful ways of achieving the overall goals of WABA’s campaigns. The campaigns are </span><a href="http://waba.org.my/wbw/" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">World Breastfeeding Week (WBW)</span></a><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, </span><a href="http://waba.org.my/warm_chain/" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Warm Chain (WC) of Support for Breastfeeding</span></a><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, and </span><a href="http://waba.org.my/epc/" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Empowering Parents Campaign (EPC)</span></a><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. Some of the highlights of this meeting include Dr Laurence Grummer-Strawn’s (WHO) presentation on the 2018 updated implementation guidance of the </span><a href="https://waba.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9c4737de875c6fa12b87991e8&id=d331cd4fa7&e=49f0c54a12" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Breastfeeding-Friendly Hospital Initiative</span></a><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, Dr Amal Omer-Salim’s (WABA) discussion of the </span><a href="https://waba.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9c4737de875c6fa12b87991e8&id=4e7e8db3fb&e=49f0c54a12" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Warm Chain concept</span></a><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, the panel discussion on </span><a href="https://waba.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9c4737de875c6fa12b87991e8&id=fe3fb8ef19&e=49f0c54a12" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">father and community support</span></a><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, as well as a presentation on the </span><a href="https://waba.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9c4737de875c6fa12b87991e8&id=fda64205ec&e=49f0c54a12" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">WBW-SDGs campaign</span></a><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.295;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We would like to thank our donors over the years, especially the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and the Directorate-General for International Cooperation (DGIS) for supporting WABA and its partners. As we move towards the next decades, we will be expanding our partnerships, aligning with other global initiatives and platforms and engaging more young people for greater impact. </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.295;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Do join us on this journey!</span></p></span></div><img id="m_7113649272272700556pw_tpl" style="border:none;display:none;width:0px;height:0px" src="https://app.prosperworks.com/tp/t/Mzg2NzkyfHx8fHwyMDU4ODl8fHx8fDE1NTAxOTM4MTY4MzM=/space.gif?creator=peiching.chuah@waba.org.my"></div><br></div></div>