UNICEF: World Breastfeeding Week August 1-7 2009

NEW YORK, USA, 31 July 2009 UNICEF and the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action are commemorating World Breastfeeding Week, 1-7 August 2009, by underscoring the vital importance of breastfeeding during emergencies.

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Globally, only 38 percent of infants under the age of six months are exclusively breastfed, though research shows that optimal breastfeeding is the single most effective preventive intervention for reducing infant mortality.

Breast milk offers an excellent source of nutrition for infants and, especially where clean water is lacking, helps keep young children safe from dangerous water-borne illnesses like diarrhoea, said UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman.

To read the full story, visit http://www.unicef.org/emerg/index_50471.html

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Nonprofits & Activism

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• UNICEF
• World
• Breastfeeding
• Week
• children
• infant
• mortality
• health

[36hesperia36]

Am I the only one surprised the UNICEF Nutrition Specialist said

"Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months, and continued breastfeeding up to 12 months"?

Women should be encouraged to breastfeed to two years, and on, if mutually desired.

[kikimomof3]

I love this I am nursing and have nursed all three of my children. They are all so sharp and smart.Breastfeeding awareness needs to be promoted more here in the states also!!

[JulianRJulian]

is that selena gomez's voice??

[ndnthunder8]

I breastfed for over a year my two children, have the 3rd one on the way and planning on breastfeeding as well, my kids now 6 and 4 rarely get sick like ever, well my stepson who's 7 gets sick often (he was formula fed) plus you got the emotional and physical benefits as well they feel loved warm and secure....now who can tell me thats a bad thing?

[Emamaly]

Its so shocking that only 10% of women were breastfeeding in these african countries mentioned.. yet formula was only introduced in the 50s.. that is crazy how huge an effect this invention had on eradicating a natural human process - thanks to malicious advertisement.. very sad.

[mcwolfus]

Didn't Nestle promote their products by kind of saying that formula was better? Even to the poorest?

[brianddrea]

OMG



[blazebomb55]

@36hesperia36 The woman said "continued AFTER 12 months".

[THEjkllkkljkljkl]

lol unicef=the leaders in spreading aids in africa

jeee listen to them

[brokenbythebritish]

Why is this worse than conditions under the Apartheid government? Why are other governments that do so much worse, allowed to continue, while the Apartheid government that did so much better, was destroyed. Good luck, if their countries supported the destruction of Apartheid South Africa and Rhodesia, then they deserve to suffer in worse circumstances than these two countries provided. South Africa even had concentration camps where 34% of white Boers perished.

[ilaiktittz]

Not cool.. not cool..

[girlofgodscountry]

@jmgjmg623 But they put DHA in formula now. ;0) (My statement is very facetious, btw, and filled with sarcasm.)