Celebrating World Breastfeeding Week

August 3, 2009 by PATH

Maternal, newborn, and child health
USAID's Infant and Young Child Nutrition Project launches activities in several countries

Mother holding her infant, with text, 'World Breastfeeding Week, August 1 to 7, 2009.'World Breastfeeding Week is August 1 to 7, 2009. The theme is "Breastfeeding: A Vital Emergency Response. Are you ready?"

USAID’s Infant & Young Child Nutrition (IYCN) Project, led by PATH, will join partners around the globe in highlighting the critical role of breastfeeding before and during emergencies worldwide.

The IYCN Project supports the call for increased efforts to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding in emergencies. During earthquakes, floods, conflicts, and other crises, good breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices save lives and prevent malnutrition and childhood illnesses.

To commemorate World Breastfeeding Week, the IYCN Project will participate in activities to promote good infant feeding practices during the critical time from pregnancy through the first two years of life:

  • In Haiti and Lesotho, IYCN will help coordinate outreach events to boost awareness of good infant feeding practices.
  • In Kenya, IYCN project director Denise Lionetti will participate in a stakeholders’ meeting to discuss the status of infant feeding in the country.
  • In Zambia, the project is working with partners to launch a new media campaign to promote exclusive breastfeeding.

IYCN’s teams in the field will provide coverage of the week’s events. Visit the IYCN website to:

Posted August 3, 2009.