They say “It takes a village to raise a child.” Now in current conditions, the villages have shrunk to represent immediate family, still, the gist remains, raising a kid is no easy feat. In this age it is even harder, they just grow up too fast, so to get it right, parents need to start from day one, only then can they build a firm foundation on which a healthy life can prosper. The first step to laying this foundation is by providing them the right nutrition, and what better than breast milk for a newborn.
Reiterating this fact and trying to inculcate it globally and wholly we have World Breastfeeding Week 1st Aug till 7th Aug. This annual event started 26 years ago, and a lot has been achieved since then, and yet there are miles more to go. In tandem with this knowledge, this year’s theme for WBW is ‘Breastfeeding: Foundation of Life’
Treading on this path the objectives described by WABA (World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action) are:
- Inform: inform people about the links between good nutrition, food security, poverty reduction and breastfeeding. Studies have revealed that breastfeeding works wonders for both mother and child’s health. As for food security, it means the food is available to babies even in time of crisis. For poverty, breastfeeding makes stronger people allowing them to do their best. It reduces the cost of medical treatment and cuts through the vicious circle of poverty and hunger.
- Anchor: breastfeeding as the foundation of life
- Engage: with individuals and organizations for greater impact
- Galvanize: action to advance breastfeeding as a part of good nutrition, food security, and poverty reduction.
The crux is to have more and more and eventually all mothers breastfeed their child exclusively for the first 6 months and continue to breastfeed along with solid food between 7 to 24 months.
Now you know the drill, what’s required of you. Spread the word and message through social media, word of mouth, participating in any event, collaborating with any NGO or organization. Push the thought ahead, be creative just actively participate and make it a success.
On that front, an interesting event has been started by ILCA (International Lactation Consultant Association) – Thunderclap. In this you need to register with them through Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr, and on 12:00 PM EDT, they will post a message on your chosen platform about breastfeeding. A collective effort to have a thunderous effect.
WABA says ‘Breastfeeding is a universal solution that levels the playing field, giving everyone a fair start in life’. Let’s contribute as one big congregated village to raise healthy generations world over.