Beverly Blake Scarlett,
The Ministry of Health in collaboration with the North East Regional Health Authority will be commemorating National Breastfeeding Week 2016 during the week of September 18-24 under the theme: ‘Breastfeeding: a key to sustainable development’.
The national events will be hosted by the North East Regional Health Authority with the major activities being held in St Mary and St Ann.
The first activity in this program was the Regional Playoff in the Breastfeeding Week 2016 Quiz Competition. This was held at the Highgate Health Centre Conference Room on August 30. The participants in this competition were Community Heath Aides. The emphases in this quiz were:
- The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiatives and the 10 steps to successful breastfeeding
- The International code for the Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes
- World Breastfeeding week theme and focus – World Breastfeeding week is commemorated August 1-7 of each year.
The National Breastfeeding Week Quiz Competition Finals will be played off at the Turtle River Park in Ocho Rios, St Ann on September 22.
Congratulations to the Community Health Aides and their coach from the Portland Health Department who copped the Regional Trophy with the highest points, followed by St Mary in second place and St Ann in third place.
The week-long activities begin with a Church Service on September 18 at the St. Cyprian Anglican Church in Highgate, St. Mary.
The national launching ceremony will be held on September 19, at the St. Theresa Catholic Church in Annotto Bay, St Mary. The Port Antonio Marching band will kick off this event from the Annotto Bay Square to the venue. The entire family is invited to join us at the national launch to recognize breastfeeding mothers especially from St. Mary, Portland and St. Ann, participate in fun and games. There will also be an outside broadcast, free medical checks, prizes and surprises.
The World Breastfeeding Week theme is focused on sustainable development goals (SDGs) which shows how breastfeeding can assist with good health and wellbeing, quality education, poverty reduction, zero hunger … among others. Breastfeeding is linked to the SDGs in several ways. The World Breastfeeding Week materials cover the main link areas between breastfeeding and the SDGs along five broad themes:
(1) nutrition & food security, 2) health, well-being and survival, 3) environment and climate change,
4) work productivity, empowerment, social protection, and 5) sustainable partnerships and rule of law.
The objectives of World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) World Breastfeeding Week 2016 are, to:
1. inform people about the new SDGs and how they relate to breastfeeding and Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF).
- firmly anchor breastfeeding as a key component of sustainable development
3. galvanise a variety of actions at all levels on breastfeeding and IYCF in the new era of the SDGs
4. engage and collaborate with a wider range of actors around promotion, protection and support of breastfeeding
Some benefits of BREASTFEEDING:
In light of the increase in obesity and chronic non-communicable diseases among our populations in Jamaica, the Caribbean and the World – According to research done by BL Hota et al, published in Paediatrics supplement 2015; Breastfeeding helps to prevent overweight and type-2 diabetes in children – ‘Longer breastfeeding reduces the risk of overweight / obesity by 13%, helping to fight chronic diseases caused by obesity. It also lowers the risk of type-2 diabetes by 35%.’
Breastfeeding is a natural and low-cost way of feeding babies and children. It is affordable for everyone and does not burden household budgets compared to artificial feeding. Breastfeeding contributes to poverty reduction.
Breastfeeding and adequate complementary feeding are fundamentals for readiness to learn. Breastfeeding and good quality complementary foods significantly contribute to mental and cognitive development and thus promote learning.
REMEMBER THE ‘BREAST IS STILL THE BEST’
