World Breastfeeding Week Celebrated in the Turks and Caicos Islands
The Ministry of Health, Agriculture, Sports and Human Services joins the rest of the world in celebrating World Breastfeeding Week, which is observed every year from August 1st-7th.
The theme this year is "Breastfeeding: Foundation of Life". Breast milk is the foundation of life, containing essential nutrients for babies to give them a healthy start. World Breastfeeding Week is coordinated by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) and highlights that breastfeeding is a universal solution that levels the playing field, giving everyone a fair start in life.
Recognizing the importance of breastfeeding in saving lives of infants and young children, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), jointly developed the Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding, to revitalize the worlds' attention to the impact that feeding practices can have on the nutritional status, growth and development, and the very survival of infants and young children.
In November 2016, the Primary Health Care Department within the Ministry of Health collaborated with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and TCI Hospitals to begin the implementation process for the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Since then, the team has continued the path to BFHI certification by conducting a 40-hour training of trainer workshop for health practitioners. This has led to continuous ongoing training of staff by the certified breastfeeding trainers. The next step is to set a date for BFHI accreditation.
The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) is a global effort launched by the WHO and UNICEF to implement practices that protect, promote and support breastfeeding.
In commemoration of World Breastfeeding Week, the Primary Health Care Department will be embarking on a week of activities from 30th July-3rd August, 2018. The activities planned to recognize this important week on the health calendar will include breastfeeding information, promotional breastfeeding items and breastfeeding educational talks in person and on the radio.
The public is therefore invited to come out and support their local Primary Health Care clinics during the upcoming breastfeeding promotional activities on their normal Child Health Clinic days.
For additional information, please contact Mrs. Lakeisha Wilson, Nutritionist on 338 5470.
