World Breastfeeding Week is observed Aug. 1-7
The Kane County Health Department joins with the Kane County Breastfeeding Coalition and the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action to advocate for the benefits of breast-feeding during World Breastfeeding Week, Aug. 1-7.
The theme for this year's annual observance is: "Let's Make It Work!"
This year's World Breastfeeding Week calls for concerted global action to support women to combine breast-feeding and work. Research shows that breast-feeding improves short- and long-term maternal and child health. Breast-fed babies receive everything they need for healthy growth and brain development, including protection from respiratory infections, diarrheal disease, obesity and noncommunicable diseases such as asthma and diabetes.
Locally, the Kane County Breastfeeding Coalition is comprised of members from diverse aspects of the community, including the local hospitals, community health centers, Women Infants and Children Programs, the Kane County Health Department, private lactation consultants and community groups that promote breast-feeding.
Objectives of World Breastfeeding Week 2015:
1. Galvanize multidimensional support from all sectors to enable women everywhere to work and breast-feed.
2. Promote actions by employers to become family-, parent-, baby- and mother-friendly and to actively facilitate and support employed women to continue breast-feeding.
3. Inform people about the latest global maternity protection entitlements, and raise awareness of the need to strengthen related national legislation and implementation.
4. Strengthen, facilitate and showcase supportive practices that enable women working in the informal sector to breast-feed.
5. Engage with target groups, e.g. with trade unions, workers' rights organizations, women's groups and youth groups to protect the breast-feeding rights of women in the workplace.
For more information about World Breastfeeding Week, visit worldbreastfeedingweek.org.
More information about the Kane County Breastfeeding Coalition is available by visiting www.kanehealth.com/breastfeeding.htm.