INFOKU, BLORA - History of the World
Breastfeeding Week (WBW), which is celebrated every 1 to 7 August, began with
the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) forum held at the United
Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) headquarters ), in New York, United States, in
1991.
This agenda is celebrated simultaneously in various parts of the earth. The mission of commemorating World Breastfeeding Week is to fight for the fulfillment of the rights of the child or baby to the needs of breast milk until the age of 24 months or more.
The global goal is to optimize nutritional health and the health of mothers and children.
The
World Health Organization (WHO) together with the American Academy of
Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that babies be given exclusive breastfeeding from
birth until the age of 4 to 6 months.
This
means that during this period, babies who are only given breast milk without
other complementary foods. After 6 months, the baby should remain breastfed
while receiving appropriate and adequate complementary food until the age of 2
years or more.
These
habits are expected to be achieved by creating the right environment, awareness
and support for breastfeeding mothers around the world.
With
the theme "Support breastfeeding for a healthier planet" or
"Support breastfeeding for a healthier planet".
ASI
2020 Week focuses on the impact of infant feeding on the environment or climate
change and the need to protect, promote and support breastfeeding for the
health of the planet and its people.
This theme is aligned with thematic area 3 in the 2030
WBW-SDG campaign which highlights the relationship between breastfeeding and
environmental or climate change.
The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA)
applies a warm chain approach to working across sectors and levels to achieve
common goals with groups working on environmental issues. Together, the
relationship between breastfeeding and the environment needs to be stressed.
PKK Blora
The Blora District Family Welfare Empowerment Teams (TP PKK) as Government
partners are expected to play an active role, especially for the development of
toddler nutrition through exclusive breastfeeding.
Head of TP PKK Blora Regency, Hj. Umi Kulsum Djoko Nugroho stated, TP PKK
understood very well the importance of breast milk for the health of infants,
because infants who do not get adequate milk are prone to disease.
"It is estimated that more than one million children die each year
from diarrhea, respiratory problems and other infections because they are not
adequately breastfed by their mothers," Umi Kulsum said, Sunday
(02/08/2020).
The wife of the Blora Regent said that the organizer of the diarrheal
disease management program has long recognized that breastfeeding is a way to
deal with diarrhea. Through breast milk will prevent dehydration and accelerate
the healing of babies with diarrhea.
However, Umi said, most mothers in many countries have given extra food and
drinks to their babies who are not yet 6 months old. In fact, many mothers stop
breastfeeding long before their children are 2 years old.
Umi Kulsum said, there are many reasons mothers do not give exclusive
breastfeeding. The reason that is often thrown out is not sure you have enough
milk for her baby.
Another reason is that mothers work outside the home and do not know how to
breastfeed while still working.
"Whereas exclusive breastfeeding is very influential on optimal health
and growth and development of children. For this reason, exclusive
breastfeeding is mandatory and is the right of children to get the highest
degree of health, "he explained.
Umi Kulsum revealed the high infant mortality rate in Blora Regency, due to
the Low Birth Weight (LBW) of less than 2.5 kg.
Other causes are undernourished infants and pneumonia. To reduce the
mortality rate, the intervention of exclusive breastfeeding program is carried
out 0-6 months and continued until the age of 2 years.
For this reason, at this week's ASI World Week, she asked PKK cadres to
take an active role in increasing and succeeding exclusive breastfeeding
coverage in Blora Regency. PKK members are also expected to become facilitators
who can empower the community through exclusive breastfeeding education.
"Mothers must be intelligent, meaning that they truly understand that
giving exclusive breastfeeding is obligatory for children. ASI is the right of
children, because these children will be our successors, the successor of this
nation to the healthy and smart generation of Blora Regency," he concluded. (Endah / Jay)