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August 2009, New Delhi: Breastfeeding can save the lives of
infants and children during an emergency. During World Breastfeeding Week,3-7 August 2009 the
World Health Organization is focusing on the need to protect, promote and
support breastfeeding in emergencies for infant and young child survival,
health and development.
“Children, particularly the infants,
are the most vulnerable in emergencies. Diarrhoea, respiratory illnesses and
malnutrition encountered in emergencies significantly increase child
mortality” said Dr. Samlee Plianbangchang, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia. “During emergencies or humanitarian
crisis, the ‘normal’ social, economic and health infrastructures are
compromised, leaving infants vulnerable to diseases and death. Breastfeeding
is a life-saving intervention particularly for the infants. And mothers need
active support to continue or re-establish breastfeeding further” he added.
Supporting breastfeeding in
non-emergency settings will further strengthen mothers’ capacity to cope in
an emergency. In the South-East Asia Region, approximately a third of all the
infants less than six months of age are exclusively breastfed.
Breast milk is the ideal food for newborns and
infants, providing all the nutrients they need for healthy development. It is
safe and contains antibodies that help protect infants from common childhood
illnesses such as diarrhoea and pneumonia ― the two primary causes of
child mortality worldwide. Above all, breast milk is readily available and
affordable, which helps to ensure that infants get adequate sustenance.
Breastfeeding also benefits mothers particularly
when it is done exclusively. It suppresses menstruation, a natural though not
fail-safe method of birth control, reduces risks of breast and ovarian cancer
later in life -- helps women return to their pre-pregnancy weight faster and
lowers rates of obesity. During emergencies the family and community are the
primary environment within which breastfeeding takes place. For successful
breastfeeding, families and communities have to be supported and encouraged.
Advocacy and awareness needs to be created among
policy-makers, health workers, mothers and communities to promote
breastfeeding during emergencies. Regular training of hospital and health
clinic staff and community health workers to promote breastfeeding and overcome
constraints to successful breastfeeding is needed. Also, adherence to the
international code to regulate the marketing of breast-milk substitutes andinternational policies
and guidelinesfor acceptance, distribution
and use of milk products in emergency situations will go a long way in
promoting breastfeeding in emergency settings.
For any clarification or additional information, please contact Ms Vismita Gupta
Smith, Public Information Advocacy Officer, at telephone: 011
2330 9401; e-mail guptasmithv@searo.who.int
For more information please visit our website: www.searo.who.int.
All press releases, fact sheets and other WHO media material may be found at: www.searo.who.int.
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