The goal is to empower women to breastfeed, pointing out the importance and benefits of breastfeeding, and this year’s campaign is conducted under the slogan “Support breastfeeding for a healthier planet”
Every year, in the first week of October, the Institute of Public Health of the Federation of BiH marks the World Breastfeeding Week with a series of activities. This year, too, the goal is to empower women to breastfeed, pointing out the importance and benefits of breastfeeding, and this year’s campaign is conducted under the slogan “Let’s support breastfeeding for a healthier planet.”
Informing people about the connection between breastfeeding and the environment and climate change is one of the main goals of this year’s breastfeeding week, because breastfeeding does not generate waste, does not require water heating as infant formula or requires additional production chains that have a negative impact on the environment and contribute to climate change.
Due to the epidemiological situation caused by the new coronavirus, activities on the occasion of World Breastfeeding Week are limited, and the Institute of Public Health of the Federation of BiH, in cooperation with the Association for Breastfeeding Improvement – IBFAN, the Institute of Public Health KS and the Association of Public Health Specialists for breastfeeding support (World Breastfeeding Alliance- WABA) dedicated to this year’s theme. Posters are distributed to all actors who can play a significant role in promoting breastfeeding.
– Breastfeeding is a unique measure to preserve the health of children from an early age because it stimulates the physical, emotional, sensory, and cognitive development of the child, and has a defensive function against infectious and chronic non-communicable diseases, and contributes to faster recovery of infants after an illness. Also, breastfeeding has a positive effect on the health of the mother, reducing the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer, does not burden the finances, and is safe for the environment – according to the Public Health Institute of the Federation of BiH.
According to the recommendations of the World Health Organization, breastfeeding should begin within the first hour of the child’s birth and breastfeeding should continue until the age of six months, which means that the child should not consume other liquids or solid foods, even water, with the exception of oral rehydration solution or drops/syrups with vitamins, minerals or medicines.
Breastfeeding is one of the best investments for the salvation and better quality of life of infants, but also for improving the health, and social and economic development of individuals and the entire population.
