This week, we join countries and communities around the world in celebrating World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7, 2016). The ARCH team collaborates with partners in empowering women to breastfeed and provide their children with the healthiest start in life—not only with a range of activities this week, but throughout the year.
This year’s theme focuses on the role of breastfeeding in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Breastfeeding is a critical first step on a child’s path to a healthy future. But as a foundation for a child’s future health and well-being, breastfeeding also is a critical element of worldwide development efforts to create a more healthy, prosperous, and sustainable planet. As a practical step towards protecting the survival and health of babies and women, breastfeeding is central to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and is linked to many SDGs.
We are launching a new website and social media channels to raise awareness about breastfeeding and the SDGs and to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week.
- Explore archnutrition.org to learn more about our efforts improve early childhood nutrition and access our research findings on the availability, promotion, and consumption of foods for infants and young children.
- Follow us on Twitter (@ARCH_Nutrition) and Facebook (@ARCHnutritionproject) and join the conversation: #WBW2016.
Here’s what ARCH countries are doing to honor World Breastfeeding Week.
Cambodia
ARCH will support Cambodia’s National Nutrition Program with hosting a capacity building workshop for nongovernmental organizations. Participants from across the country will learn more about supporting moms to breastfeed and plan activities to engage their communities in World Breastfeeding Week. ARCH will also participate in a radio call-in show to discuss breastfeeding with listeners.
Learn more about ARCH activities in Cambodia.
Indonesia
ARCH is preparing to highlight research findings—on the availability, promotion, and consumption of foods for infants and young children—with stakeholders at a Ministry of Health event and a civil society workshop marking World Breastfeeding Week.
Learn more about ARCH activities in Indonesia.
Nepal
ARCH is collaborating with the Ministry of Health’s Child Health Division establish its fourth official breastfeeding corner in Kathmandu Valley. The new corner will offer a space for mothers to breastfeed at the Department of Health Services. ARCH support includes providing behavior change communication materials for moms who visit the corner. ARCH will also promote World Breastfeeding Week messages at hospitals in Katmandu Valley and coordinate a breastfeeding panel discussion for a national television station. Read more about our World Breastfeeding Week plans in Nepal.
Learn more about ARCH activities in Nepal.