Today, World Breastfeeding Week begins, a date set by WHO and UNICEF to protect, encourage and support breastfeeding, for the innumerable benefits that it brings to the health of the mother and the baby.
And it is precisely this last point that WABA (World Alliance for Breastfeeding Alliance) wanted to highlight this year in the motto of the 2018 campaign: "Breastfeeding, pillar of life".
The objectives of the 2018 campaign
The fundamental idea that this year is intended to highlight, both through the logo and the slogan of the campaign, is the link between breastfeeding and the triad nutrition, food security and poverty reduction.
Therefore, World Breastfeeding Week 2018 will focus, mainly on analyzing, finding solutions and promoting breastfeeding in these areas:
- Prevent malnutrition in all its forms
Malnutrition refers to both malnutrition, overweight and associated noncommunicable diseases, and both one thing and the other have significant short and long-term health risks.
Therefore, it is essential to bet on breastfeeding to preserve the health of the mother and the child, because in the case of women, exclusive breastfeeding will help you recover weight faster before pregnancy, and reduce the risk of developing diabetes. In addition, it will also contribute to minimize the chances of breast and ovarian cancer, as well as hypertension.
For its part, the child fed with his mother's milk minimizes the risk of infectious diseases, respiratory and severe diarrhea, and if the combat appears better. In addition, breastfeeding helps prevent dental problems and malocclusion.
Via worldbreastfeedingweek.org - Ensure food security even in times of crisis
The one that all people can secure access to food, is something that can be affected at any given time by external causes such as natural disasters, humanitarian crises, conflicts, hunger or environmental degradation.
Promoting breastfeeding is crucial in these cases, as it guarantees the baby or the child access to safe and organic food (it is produced and delivered to the consumer without contamination, packaging or waste), contributing to their well-being and preserving their health .
- Breaking the cycle of poverty
The short and long-term costs of not breastfeeding affect society as a whole in the following ways:
1) It has been shown that long breastfed babies have a highest IQ, which would increase your chances of achieving a good education, and in turn, generate more income for your work, thus contributing to the well-being of your family.
2) As we have seen at the beginning, babies who are not breastfed are more likely to get diseases, which entails higher expenses in medical care and treatments.
3) The production, packaging, storage, distribution and preparation of infant formulas contribute to environmental damage, so opting for breastfeeding in addition to all the benefits mentioned, would help protect our ecosystem.
Both WHO and UNICEF advise that breastfeeding be established within the first hour after birth, which is exclusive during the first six months of life, and continue for at least two years with the supplementation of other foods.
Because breastfeeding is the basis of life, and protecting, promoting and supporting it among all is essential to achieve a more sustainable world.
