World Breastfeeding Week 2009

Breastfeeding is the best way to provide newborns with the nutrients they need. In 2009, World Breastfeeding Week aims to draw attention to the vital role that breastfeeding plays in emergencies worldwide, as well as to stress the need for active protection and support of breastfeeding before and during emergencies.

World Breastfeeding Week--celebrated every year from 1 to 7 August in more than 120 countries--encourages breastfeeding as one of the ways to improve the health of babies around the world. "Breastfeeding - a vital emergency response. Are you ready?" is this year's theme. Children are the most vulnerable in emergencies, when child mortality can be from 2 to 70 times higher than average due to diarrhoea, respiratory illness and malnutrition.

One of the objectives of World Breastfeeding Week 2009 is to inform mothers, breastfeeding advocates, communities, health professionals, governments, aid agencies, donors, and the media on how they can actively support breastfeeding before and during an emergency. During emergencies, mothers need active support to continue or re-establish breastfeeding, and supporting breastfeeding in non-emergency settings is a way to ensure that mothers will be better equiped to cope in an emergency.

Emergency preparedness is vital. Hospitals and other health care services must train health workers to help mothers establish breastfeeding and/or overcome difficulties.

	The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative Section 1: Background and Implementation  Section 2: Strengthening and Sustaining the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative Section 3: Breastfeeding Promotion and Support: A 20 Hour Course for Maternity Staff Section 4: Hospital Self-Appraisal and Monitoring
	Infant and Young Child Feeding Model Chapter for textbooks for Medical Students and Allied Health Professionals
	La Inciativa Hospital Amigo del Nino Curso de 20 Horas Para el Personal de la Maternidad
	Declaracion de Innocenti Declaracion de Innocenti
	Mas Alla de Superviviencia Prácticas Integrales Durante la Atención del Parto, Beneficiosas para la Nutrición y la Salud de Madres y Niños
	Consejería en Lactancia Materna: Curso de Capacitación Guía del Capacitador Guia del Director Guía del Participante
	Razones médicas aceptables para el uso de sucedaneos de leche materna Razones Médicas Aceptables para el Uso de Sucedaneos de Leche Materna
	Indicadores Para Evaluar las Practicas de Alimentacion del Lactante y del Nino Pequeno Indicadores Para Evaluar las Practicas de Alimentacion del Lactante y del Nino Pequeno
	Consejería para la Alimentación del Lactante y del Niño Pequeno: Curso Integrado Guía del Director Guia del Facilitador Manual del Participante Lineamientos para el Seguimiento
Links and Resources
	Video: La initiation of la lactancia materna Breast Crawl
	Video: Prácticas que Salvan Vidas Clampeo Oportuno de Cordón Umblical y Lactancia Precoz