AS PART OF WORLD BREASTFEEDING WEEK 2024, UNICEF CUBA WILL ACCOMPANY THE DAY THAT PROMOTES THIS VITAL PRACTICE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN, THE ORGANIZATION ANNOUNCED TODAY.

WORLD BREASTFEEDING WEEK, CELEBRATED EVERY YEAR FROM 1 TO 7 AUGUST, IS A GLOBAL CAMPAIGN COORDINATED BY THE WORLD ALLIANCE FOR BREASTFEEDING ACTION (WABA) TO RAISE AWARENESS AND STIMULATE ACTION ON BREASTFEEDING ISSUES.

THIS YEAR IT HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE EFFECTIVE CHAIN OF SUPPORT FOR MOTHERS AND THEIR BABIES, BEGINNING WITH PREGNANCY AND CONTINUING THROUGH THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF A CHILD'S LIFE. THE DAY IS A CALL TO COORDINATE BREASTFEEDING EFFORTS AMONG DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS AT ALL LEVELS.

IN A STATEMENT, THE UNITED NATIONS AGENCY ON THE CARIBBEAN ISLAND SAID THAT DESPITE THE BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING, CHALLENGES REMAIN FOR CUBA TO REACH THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS TARGET OF 70 PERCENT EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING DURING THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF LIFE BY 2030.

A NUMBER OF SOCIAL, CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS INFLUENCE THE DECISION TO ABANDON THE PRACTICE OF EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING FOR THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF A CHILD'S LIFE AND THEN SUPPLEMENTING WITH OTHER FOODS UNTIL THE AGE OF TWO, THE LETTER STRESSED.

BREASTFEEDING IS FUNDAMENTAL TO CHILDREN'S HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, SAID ALEJANDRA TROSSERO, UNICEF REPRESENTATIVE IN CUBA. WE ARE WORKING WITH NATIONAL AUTHORITIES, HEALTH WORKERS, COMMUNITIES AND CUBAN FAMILIES TO PROMOTE AND PROTECT BREASTFEEDING AND TO PREVENT AND TREAT CHILD MALNUTRITION.

PROVIDING INFORMATION ON THE BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING FOR BOTH INFANTS AND MOTHERS IS AN ESSENTIAL STEP THAT REQUIRES THE PARTICIPATION OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE WORKERS, THE MEDIA AND OTHER SOCIAL ACTORS CLOSE TO FAMILIES.

IN 2023, UNICEF CUBA CONTRIBUTED TO STRENGTHENING THE TECHNICAL CAPACITY OF HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TO PROMOTE BREASTFEEDING, PREVENT MALNUTRITION IN THE FIRST THOUSAND DAYS OF LIFE AND PREVENT OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY AMONG SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN.

IT HAS ALSO SUPPORTED THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR THE MANAGEMENT, CONTROL AND INTEGRAL FOLLOW-UP OF HUMAN MILK BANK SERVICES IN CUBA.

AT THE SAME TIME, IT PARTICIPATES IN THE ELABORATION AND UPDATING PROCESS OF THE DIETARY GUIDELINES FOR PREGNANT AND NURSING MOTHERS IN CUBA AND THE DIETARY GUIDELINES FOR CHILDREN UP TO TWO YEARS OF AGE. THE DECLARATION ALSO STATES THAT ANOTHER KEY INTERVENTION TO PREVENT ANEMIA IN CHILDREN BETWEEN 12 AND 23 MONTHS OF AGE IS THE PURCHASE AND DISTRIBUTION OF MULTI-NUTRIENT POWDERS (MNP), WHICH CONTAIN 15 ESSENTIAL VITAMINS AND MINERALS.

UNICEF WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT BREASTFEEDING-FRIENDLY POLICIES AND SHARE THE BEST EXPERIENCES SO THAT ALL MOTHERS CAN ENJOY THIS STAGE IN A SATISFACTORY AND EFFECTIVE WAY," SAYS ALEJANDRA TROSSERO.

EFFECTIVE SUPPORT FOR BREASTFEEDING WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES HAS AN IMPACT ON THE WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN. LET'S HELP GIVE THEM A BETTER START IN LIFE," SHE ADDED.