Breastfeeding: Foundation of Life

Wednesday 1 August 2018

The World Week in Support of Breastfeeding was launched in Tajikistan, as well as in other countries around the Globe, on August 1st. 

Annually, from August 1 to 10th, 10 days of events celebrating and promoting breastfeeding are held. 

This campaign is supported by The Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Population of the Republic of Tajikistan.

The slogan for this year’s campaign is "Breastfeeding: foundation of life". Throughout the country, actions have begun to raise public awareness of the importance of exclusive breastfeeding on the mental and physical development of newborns. 

Save the Children International in Tajikistan initiated information events to promote breastfeeding in all twenty target villages of or project sites in Varzob and Vahdat districts, where "Mother and Child Health" is being implemented.  These events are being attended by community members, health workers, local authorities, women and children, representatives of the Ministry of Health and other local health departments. Villagers are actively involved in performing poem-reading, singing, dancing and short theatrical performances about the importance of breastfeeding and family support. Health workers and Health Ministry representatives are giving evidence-based advice to young mothers, mothers-in-law and other family members on the significance of exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months as well as the right approach in the complementary feeding of infants.  

Everywhere, local people express their gratitude to organizers for holding such events because, they now understand how vital healthy nutrition is for infants and children under five. The village leaders and elderly population have expressed their thanks to SCI for teaching the best ways of feeding newborns, helping to build a supportive environment in families and linking communities with trained health workers.

Employees of Save the Children, in addition to presenting different prizes to the participants of the events, are also handing over midwife kits to primary health care center personnel, which they can use in rendering high-quality medical services. All these activities are being carried out as part of our “Mother and Child Health” program, funded by Save the Children Korea.