World Breastfeeding Week 2018 in SUN Movement Countries in Asia

BREASTFEEDING: Foundation of Life

World Breastfeeding Week is to raise awareness of the importance of breastfeeding. Join us in our support for breastfeeding mothers. Why? Because breastfeeding is a universal solution that helps every child start out in life on equal terms. It also improves the health, well-being and survival of the women and children of the world. This year’s slogan for World Breastfeeding Week, promoted by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), is: Breastfeeding: Foundation of Life and it expands it by saying, “In a world filled with inequality, crises and poverty, breastfeeding is the foundation of lifelong good health for babies and mothers.

Bangladesh

On August 1st in Dhaka, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Breastfeeding Foundation of Bangladesh jointly arranged an inaugural ceremony for the launch of the 2018 World Breastfeeding Week. The Health Minister, Mohammad Nasim, graced the occasion as the chief guest.

World Breastfeeding Week 18 Theme Song 

Cambodia

In August 15, in Kampong Cham Province, the National Nutrition Program, Helen Keller International and other Scaling Up Nutrition Civil Society Alliance members hosted the annual World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) celebration and launched it with a capacity building workshop for non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Though WBW celebrations officially occurred from August 1-7, 2018, this year the celebration will be extended through to September 2018 when Cambodia will celebrate its 5th Annual National Nutrition Day. A total of 110 participants attended the capacity building workshop for NGOs, including government officers from operation districts and provincial health departments, and staff from 20 different NGOs working in health, nutrition, maternity, and child health sectors in Cambodia. In total, the participants represented 20 provinces out of 25 provinces in Cambodia. The workshop was chaired by H.E Dr. Prak Sophonneary, Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Health. With current evidence indicating a decline in exclusive breastfeeding and increased use of breast-milk substitutes, the main objective was to enhance and expand the public awareness of the importance and benefits of breastfeeding, and to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding and optimal infant and young child feeding practices. For WBW 2018, the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action theme was ‘Breastfeeding: Foundation of Life’. The theme aligned well with the efforts of the Ministry of Health and relevant partners to strengthen the enforcement of Sub-Decree 133 on Marketing of Products for Infant and Young Child Feeding– the law which implements many provisions of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes in Cambodia.

Indonesia NDONESIA

On August 8, the Indonesian government officially commemorated World Breastfeeding Week hosted by the Ministry of Health. In Indonesia, the WBW is usually observed for the entire month of August through several breastfeeding campaigns. This year, the Ministry of Health launched an advertising campaigning to promote breastfeeding of children from birth up to 2 years of age. The advert was broadcast on several television channels nationally from the end of July until mid-August. This advert is in line with this year’s theme, “Breastfeeding: Foundation for Life,” in recognition of the importance of breastfeeding to a baby’s future. It also reflects a recommendation by the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) to advocate for the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding.

Kyrgyzstan

In Kyrgyzstan only 41% of women exclusively breastfeed babies. Breast milk is the best nutrition for infants. Nothing else! Even with difficulties women can breastfeed but need family & society’s help Here is my story #WBW2018 #ForEveryChild https://t.co/fLT5QFNOEQ

— Yukie Mokuo (@yukiemokuo) August 7, 2018

Myanmar

On August 15, the WBW2018 Commemorative Ceremony was conducted in Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare Association Headquarter. In this ceremony, Dr. Khin Zaw, Director General of Food and Drug Administration Department, the Deputy Director Generals and responsible persons from Ministry of Health and Sports, the president Prof. Dr. San San Myint Aung, vice president Prof. Dr. Mar Lar Win, secretary Dr. Nwe Ni Ohn, auditor Dr. Khin Win Thet and central executive committee members of Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare Association, the president, vice president  and members of Myanmar Women Affairs Federation, the President of Myanmar Red Cross Society, the vice president and members of Myanmar Women and Child Development Federation, the president and members of Nay Pyi Taw MCWA Supervisory Committee, president and members of District  MCWA Supervisory Committee, pregnant women and their husbands, invited guests attended.

Nepal

Some of the highlights from "Press meet and Interaction program and Inauguration of Breast Feeding Room" held today at the Department of Health Services, Teku @UNICEFROSA @SUN_Movement pic.twitter.com/zaEIwIHX3A

— MSNP Nepal (@NepalMSNP) August 1, 2018

Pakistan

The Scaling Up Nutrition Civil Society Alliance Pakistan – SUNCSA, Pak (a coalition of over 150 civil society organisations together with SUN Academia & Research Network Pakistan, a network of 52 universities) convened multiple activities from provincial to community levels to highlight importance of breastfeeding during the World Breastfeeding Week this year. This also includes vibrant social media campaign for promoting enabling social environment to support and encourage breastfeeding. A Live Interactive Session on importance of Breastfeeding was organized in August 2n to reach as many families, communities, women as possible, and promote breastfeeding.