Monrovia, Liberia — The Ministry of Health’s (MOH) Nutrition Division has initiated an extensive awareness campaign on breastfeeding, ahead of World Breastfeeding Week, which will take place from September 1-6, 2024. The campaign, which commenced on August 1, 2024, in Monrovia, is designed to encourage breastfeeding across Liberia through a range of media and community outreach efforts.
The focus of this year’s campaign is to promote immediate breastfeeding after birth. As part of World Breastfeeding Week, the theme “Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All” will be highlighted during events scheduled to be held in Bopolu City, Gbarpolu County. The week will feature a grand parade through Bopolu’s principal streets, culminating in a special ceremony at Emirates Hospital.
A key highlight of the week will be the inauguration of a new breastfeeding and nursing room at Emirates Hospital. This facility aims to support working mothers by allowing them to bring their infants to work, facilitating continued exclusive breastfeeding for up to six months.
The nationwide campaign, led by the Ministry of Health (MOH) with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and other partners, underscores the importance of breastfeeding for both infants and mothers. The week will be marked by activities celebrating breastfeeding mothers and promoting the supportive role of families, communities, and health workers.
Appraring on Truth FM 96.1 in Monrovia, Dr. Bedee Duworko Gbozee, Director of Nutrition at the Ministry of Health, stressed the critical health benefits of breastfeeding. “Breastfeeding helps protect infants from various illnesses, including asthma, obesity, type 1 diabetes, and sudden infant death syndrome. It also aids in preventing ear infections, stomach infections, and other diseases,” Dr. Gbozee said.
She emphasized that breast milk is a readily available, clean, and nutritious source of nourishment that also fosters a strong bond between mother and baby. Dr. Gbozee highlighted WHO recommendations for breastfeeding to start within the first hour after birth and to continue exclusively for the first six months.
The Ministry of Health is committed to supporting breastfeeding mothers by advocating for policies that promote a breastfeeding-friendly environment, including workplace support and community solidarity. “We aim to acknowledge and amplify the voices of breastfeeding mothers, ensuring they receive the necessary support and recognition,” Dr. Gbozee added.
Breastfeeding, or nursing, is recognized as the optimal way to provide infants with essential nutrients for their growth and development. The Ministry’s campaign seeks to reinforce this message and foster a supportive atmosphere for breastfeeding throughout Liberia.
WBW is celebrated every 1-7 August in commemoration of the 1990 Innocenti Declaration. WBW started in 1992, with annual themes including healthcare systems, women and work, the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, community support, ecology, economy, science, education and human rights. Since 2016, WBW is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In 2018, a World Health Assembly resolution endorsed WBW as an important breastfeeding promotion strategy.
