Every year, over 120 countries celebrate World Breastfeeding Week from August 1st through the 7th. WBW celebrates the 1991 Innocenti Declaration: a Global Initiative on the Protection, Promotion and Support of Breastfeeding, listing the benefits of breastfeeding, plus global and governmental goals.
This year's theme is Breastfeeding: A Vital Emergency Response, aimed at drawing attention to the importance of breastfeeding during an emergency. Many of us are accustomed to uninterrupted water, gas and electricity and seldom consider the consequences when they are not available. During a disaster or an emergency when these services are interrupted for long periods of time, breastfeeding becomes the most convenient and safe way to feed a baby.
The theme focuses on supporting mothers in their efforts to do what is most important for the health and survival of their children even during emergency situations.
- Being able to continue breastfeeding even during an emergency can bring comfort and a sense of normalcy even in the most stressful situations.
- Breastfeeding can continue even when an emergency interferes with the family’s established food supply. Situations that would otherwise be devastating for families that rely on sufficient funds for and access to formula, sanitation for feeding supplies, and refrigeration are no cause for alarm when the established food supply for the baby is mother’s milk.
- A breastfed baby is better prepared to deal with health challenges, avoiding some medical emergencies.
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