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Dr Leonard
Ortega, Acting WHO Representative giving awards to hospitals and townships
for Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative and Baby Friendly Home Delivery
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The commemoration ceremony for Nutrition Promotion Weeks
and World Breast Feeding week was conducted at the Ministry of Health in Nay Pyi Taw on 2 August 2009.
It was attended by H.E. Professor Kyaw Myint, Minister, Ministry of
Health, H.E. Brigadier General Ohn Myint, Minister, Ministry of Mines, H.E.
Professor Paing Soe, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Health, Dr. Leonard Ortega,
Ag WHO Representative and Mr. Ramesh Shrestha, UNICEF Representative to Myanmar.
Opening speech was delivered by H.E. Minister for Health
Professor Kyaw Myint, followed by opening remarks by Dr. Leonard Ortega, Ag
WHO Representative and by Mr. Ramesh Shrestha, UNICEF Representative to Myanmar.
Next H.E. Ministers and Ag WHO Representative and UNICEF
Representative administered vitamin A capsules to children under
five years of age.
Nutrition promotion week 2009 has been conducted as
follows :
Week one focuses on
promoting breast feeding
Week two focuses on
vitamin A supplementation and de-worming of children under 5 years
Week three focuses on
supplementation of iron and vitamin B1 among pregnant women and
lactating mothers
Week four focuses
on IDDE-Iodine Deficiency Disorders Elimination
The theme of World Breastfeeding Week 2009 is
“Breastfeeding – a vital emergency response. Are you ready?” It highlights
the need to protect, promote and support breastfeeding in emergencies for
infant and young child survival, health and development. This year’s theme
emphasizes the need to consider breast feeding as a life saving intervention
before and during emergencies.
Children are among the most vulnerable groups during
emergencies, and small children are the most vulnerable of all, due to
increased risk of death due to diarrhea and pneumonia. During emergencies,
unsolicited or uncontrolled donations of breast milk substitutes may
undermine breast feeding and should be avoided. The focus should rather be on
active protection and support of breast feeding by for example establishing
safe “corners” for mothers and infants, one to one counseling and mother to mother
support.
The theme of World Health Day 2009 was “Save lives. Make
Hospitals safe in emergencies” This year’s breast feeding week
builds upon this theme and extends it with actions in the community.
Emergencies do increase risks of infant and young child mortality, however
with appropriate action, these precious lives can be
saved.
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