Bopolu, Gbarpolu County — The Ministry of Health (MOH), in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, the World Bank, and other partners, jointly observed World Breastfeeding Week.
The event occurred on Friday, September 6, 2024, at the Bapolu City Hall in Bopolu City, Gbarpolu County.
World Breastfeeding Week is a global campaign held in the first week of August each year to address inequalities in breastfeeding globally and raise awareness of the importance of breastfeeding for mothers and their babies.
The day celebrates breastfeeding mothers in all their diversity, throughout their breastfeeding journeys, and showcases the ways families, societies, communities, and health workers can support every breastfeeding mother.
This year, the observance of Breastfeeding Week was held under the theme: “Closing The Gap: Breastfeeding Support For All.” The commemoration of Breastfeeding Week, which ends today, September 7, was also marked by the dedication of a nursing room in Gbarpolu County.
Mothers’ rooms, also known as lactation rooms or nursing rooms, are dedicated spaces in workplaces, especially hospitals, where breastfeeding employees can comfortably, conveniently, and privately express breast milk while at work.
World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) is an annual celebration held every year from August 1 to 7 in more than 120 countries.
According to the August 26 data from the WBW website, 540 events have been held worldwide by more than 79 countries.
World Breastfeeding Week was first celebrated in 1992 by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) and is now observed in over 120 countries by UNICEF, WHO, and their partners, including individuals, organizations, and governments.
WABA itself was formed on February 14, 1991, with the goal of re-establishing a global breastfeeding culture and providing support for breastfeeding everywhere.
WHO and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) emphasize the value of breastfeeding for mothers as well as children.
Both recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, followed by supplemented breastfeeding for at least one year and up to two years or more.
WBW commemorates the Innocenti Declaration made by WHO and UNICEF in August 1990 to protect and support breastfeeding.
