Launching of World Breastfeeding Week celebration from 1-7 August 2009
MEDIA ALERT
4 August 2009
What: Launching of World Breastfeeding Week celebrated from 1-7 August 2009
For the first time in Ethiopia, Federal
Ministry of Health, UNICEF, WHO and other partners will join over 120
countries worldwide to mark World Breastfeeding Week that 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.
When: Wednesday, 5 August 2009, from 9:00-11:30am
Where: Ghion Hotel, Dashen Hall, Addis Ababa
Who: The Federal Ministry of Health, UNICEF, WHO and other partners
Why: Breastfeeding provides complete
nutrition and strengthens a baby’s immune system. One-fifth of neonatal
deaths worldwide could be prevented by early initiation and exclusive
breastfeeding. 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.
The half day World Breastfeeding
Week Celebration will include the launching of Breastfeeding
Umbrellas conveying the vital messages of early initiation of
breastfeeding immediately within one hour of birth and exclusive
breastfeeding for all infants under 6 months of age. Renowned
singer and a devoted mother, artist Zeritu Kebede will also join the
event as goodwill advocate supporting this important event. There will
also be a choreographed performance on breastfeeding.
ENDS
For more information please contact:
Tesfaye Simreta, OIC, Communication Cluster, UNICEF Ethiopia. Tel: 0115 184000
email: tsimreta@unicef.org
Indrias Getachew, Head, Media and External Relations Tel 0115 184 000
email: igetachew@unicef.org
Wossen Mulatu,Communication Officer, Media and External Relations. Tel 115 184 028
email: wmulatu@unicef.org
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