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What Will You Do? 10 things anyone can do to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding

Jul 28 2021

WBW2021Around the world, thousands of events will bring people together to celebrate breastfeeding as part of World Breastfeeding Week. Although it formally takes place Aug. 1 to 7, governments, advocates, and civil society groups organize events throughout the month – and some countries have their own WBW during other months of the year.

From training workshops on the International Code of Breastmilk Substitutes to mass communication campaigns to awards for the best journalism on maternal nutrition, WBW 2021 allows everyone to act to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding. 

Get inspired! View these examples of people acting to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding around the world!

So, what will you do? 

As part of our celebration of breastfeeding, we’re asking you to share your ideas for action. You can share them in the comments section below or on social media – use the hashtag #WhatWillYouDo. 

Here are 10 simple ideas anyone can do to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding. Add yours in the comments section below. We’ll highlight the best ones!

  1. Attend a World Breastfeeding Week event in your area. The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action publishes a map with links to events across the globe. Find one and join in!
  2. Learn more about the Code. In June, Alive & Thrive  launched a special page devoted to the 40th anniversary of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, along with a collection of resources from organizations around the world. Visit the page to learn the history of the Code and its importance today from David Clark, a world-leading expert on the code; more about the issues surrounding the sophisticated marketing breastmilk substitutes manufacturers use, and meet UNICEF’s new legal specialist charged with supporting countries to implement the Code, Kathy Shats.
  3. Write a letter to your representatives to improve monitoring and enforcement of the Code. While many countries have passed laws to implement various aspects of the Code, very few have monitoring and enforcement mechanisms. Ask your representatives to act on this and any other gaps.
  4. Write a letter to your representatives to enact laws to support maternity leave. One reason mothers stop breastfeeding is their need to return to work. Laws can mandate maternity leave of at least six months, ensuring mother and baby have the best start to life. State governors in Nigeria have shown bold leadership in enacting such policies.
  5. Report a violation of the Code. Violations of the Code are common around the world. Write a letter or send an email to your local health officials and to the company in violation of the Code to inform them of the issue. Send a copy to your local newspaper.
  6. Ask your company or organization to support breastfeeding mothers by adopting workplace lactation policies and providing proper on-site support. If it already has such policies and established spaces, express your support.
  7. Write a letter to the editor of your local news outlet (or send it to them online) informing them about World Breastfeeding Week and asking them to cover the event(s) in your area. 
  8. Learn more about breastfeeding via an e-learning course. Dozens of courses are available online – try one. Start at Agora, the UNICEF e-learning platform, which has hundreds of courses on maternal nutrition.
  9. Fight misinformation on breastfeeding. If you see inaccurate or misleading information about breastfeeding online – for example, like this – tell the publisher about it and ask them to correct it. You can also call them out on social media – tag us in your posts and use the #WhatWillYouDo hashtag!
  10. Tell people about WBW and challenge them to do something to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding; for example, by sharing this list of ideas! Let’s make #WhatWillYouDo and #WBW2021 trend on social media!

What are your ideas? Tell us below!

Join the conversation

Submitted by Md. Asaduzzama… on Sat, 07/31/2021 - 15:06

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1) Advocacy exclusive breastfeeding for all of our mother :
>E = Environment
>P = Position
>A = Attachment
2) Take initiative :
Breastfeeding corner situated (office, Hotel/Restora and all of our health facilities center) is boundable.
3) May be our activity for breastfeeding in this week :
>Discussed & micro planning with UH&FPO & their all staff.
> Campaign & Rally with DC, CS, UH&FPO and Senior Staff Nurse with NGO staff.
> At last discussion session

Submitted by Sedowo Bolanle Faith on Sun, 08/01/2021 - 07:58

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Advocate for two months paternity leave for fathers of newborns to get fathers involved in encouraging their wives to breastfeed exclusively.

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