Ethiopia launches breastfeeding campaign

August 4th, 2009 | EthioPolitics.com |

Ethiopia has launched a breastfeeding campaign aimed at saving newborn babies.

This is the first time that the Ethiopian Ministry of Health, UNICEF, WHO and other partners are joining over 120 countries worldwide to mark World Breastfeeding Week which will be held from 1- 7 August 2009.

The global theme this year is “Breastfeeding – A vital Emergency Response – Are you ready?” drawing attention to the need for active protection and support of breastfeeding before and during emergencies.

“The focus in Ethiopia is to improve optimal infant and young child feeding practices by highlighting that all mothers should start to breastfeed their newborn immediately within one hour of birth and continue to only give breastmilk for the first six months of life,” said the organizers.

Ethiopia is among countries with high child mortality rates.

In Ethiopia, breastfeeding is nearly universal with nearly 96 percent of children breastfed at some time. However, a very large proportion of women do not practice appropriate breastfeeding. About a third of babies do not receive breastfeeding within one hour of birth and only one in three infants are exclusively breastfed for 6 months,” added the organizers.

APA