ABA celebrates support and sustainability during World Breastfeeding Week 2016
The World Breastfeeding Week (1-7 August 2016) undertaken by the Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) highlighted the role it plays in achieving the world’s Sustainable Development Goals.
The world leaders made a commitment in September 2015 to 17 goals aimed at eliminating poverty, protecting the environment and ensuring financial stability. World Breastfeeding Week 2016 focused on the major contribution of breastfeeding to the Sustainable Development Goals, including taking care of well being from the early stage of life, respecting each other and caring for the world that we live in.
The vision, mission and programs of ABA serve as pillars to each of the 17 goals of Sustainable Development Goals. This year’s celebration emphasized Goal 11, Sustainable Cities and Communities, aimed at raising awareness and providing support for mothers to be able to breastfeed anywhere and anytime when there is a need to feed their babies.
Ms. Rebecca Naylor, ABA’s Chief Executive Officer says that the most important factor in improving breastfeeding rates is to provide support to breastfeeding mothers as well as helping them to feel comfortable and be accepted in the society.
Ms. Naylor stressed that “World Breastfeeding Week is a great opportunity to raise awareness, offer support and demonstrate how breastfeeding contributes to the sustainability of the world we live in,” She added that by supporting breastfeeding mothers and encouraging them by using simple words can have a lot of impact on these women.
Encouraging local businesses to participate in their Breastfeeding Welcome Here initiative is also one of ABA’s goals. By displaying the ABA’s ‘Breastfeeding Welcome Here’ stickers on their premises, mothers will be aware that it is a safe place to breastfeed their baby.
Ms. Naylor also shared that there are numerous businesses that openly invite mothers to feed and ABA’s Breastfeeding Welcome Here program is great way for them to pledge their support for this endeavor. Ms Naylor added that it only takes a few minutes to register and stickers are promptly posted out. The Association is totally committed to make mothers feel comfortable when feeding in a public space.
ABA has a lot of information including information cards, posters and flyers available from their website, as a resource for mothers and businesses when disaster happens.
The ABA encouraged everyone to be involved in the World Breastfeeding Week and asked mothers to share their positive experiences in breastfeeding, including where they have seen the ‘Breastfeeding Welcome Here’ sticker. To view posts and feedback regarding the recent celebration visit breastfeeding.asn.au or the ABA Facebook page (facebook.com/ozbreastfeeding).
Local ABA groups hosted events in celebration of World Breastfeeding Week to raise awareness on the importance of community support and how this contributes to the overall theme of sustainability.
World Breastfeeding Week has already concluded but the ABA will continue supporting breastfeeding mothers 24/7, 365 days a year!
