The Public Authority for Food and Nutrition (PAFN), on Sunday, launched Kuwaiti week for breastfeeding, in collaboration with World Health Organization’s office (WHO) in the country.

The week, carrying the slogan of Let Us Rise with Breastfeeding: educate and support, aims to raise awareness and promote efforts in boosting the nutritional practices of infants, babies and mothers, commented the Program’s coordinator Dr. Mona Al-Sumaei in a press conference.

She explained that the week’s activities, lasting until Thursday, will include campaigns in public health facilities as well as an open day on Wednesday in Promenade mall, all to further encourage women on adopting breastfeeding techniques.

Dr. Al-Sumaei stated that 2019 study findings indicated that 91 percent of mothers received information about natural breastfeeding while hospitalized and around 50 percent began breastfeeding shortly after giving birth.

However, Al-Sumaie continued, only 30 percent of women persevered on breastfeeding beyond the three months mark, a number that is still low despite efforts.

She also indicated role of WHO’s office increasing natural breastfeeding levels via instructive programs in private hospitals.

On his part, WHO’s representative in Kuwait Dr. Asad Hafeeth affirmed necessity of raising rates of natural breastfeeding for better health, as children who have been breastfed develop a natural resistance to certain illnesses.

Furthermore, Dr. Hafeeth expanded, natural breastfeeding has also been proven beneficial to the mother as it reduces risk of breast and ovarian cancer, Type II diabetes and high blood pressure.

Source: Kuwait News Agency