World Breastfeeding Week 2019: "Empower Parents, Enable Breastfeeding"

Press Release

World Breastfeeding Week
By Project EMBRACE
Sandan District, Kampong Thom Province
August 20, 2019

On August 20, 2019, members of ADRA Cambodia’s EMBRACE team celebrated World Breastfeeding Week 2019 in Kleng Commune, Sandan district, Kampong Thom province. This year's World Breastfeeding Week slogan is “Empower Parents, Enable Breastfeeding.” Additional slogans were also present on the banners and produced T-shirts such as “I have breastfed my child, what about you?”; “We all support breastfeeding!”; “Breast milk is best medicine to protect children against various diseases!”; “Breastfeeding until the age of 6 months makes the baby smart and healthy!” They highlighted the best result from breastfeeding of mother to communities and key beneficiaries that EMBRACE project is targeting. The event was held in cooperation with the Provincial Health Department, Operational District of Health and the local authorities in Sandan district with total of 373 participants (241 females).

Key Objectives:

1.   Mothers need to start breastfeeding their babies immediately after delivery.

2.   To empower parents to encourage breastfeeding

3.   Provide single mother's milk to child during the first 6 months of life.

4.   Continue to breastfeed until at least 2 years of age and provide proper supplementation.

We were able to broadcast live on air via our project Radio program that was live at 10am to 11am from Kampong Thom Radio FM105.3 MHz in which we open questions for participants to ask guest speakers and chat related to the event. The special speakers presented were officials from the Provincial Health Department, Operational District of Health, Health center chief and midwives from Sandan district.

Mr. Roth Rumnea, a Senior Project Manager of the EMBRACE Project, said the program was designed to raise awareness among the community about breastfeeding and mother's milk only to their baby and to encourage all mothers to start breastfeeding immediately within the first hour after giving birth, which will provide her first milk. Exclusive breastfeeding should be practiced during the first six months and continue breastfeeding for at least 2 years of age with provision of appropriate supplementation.

Mr. Long Kisoeung, Sandan district Governor said that according to the 2014 Demographic and Health Survey report, the results show that in Cambodia, full breastfeeding practices of exclusive breastfeeding, the number has dropped from 73.5% in 2010 to 64.6% in 2014. Early breastfeeding onset within the first hour after delivery and continued breastfeeding up to 12 months was found to decline from 65.3% to 62.6% and decline from 83% to 80%. In addition, the provision of pre-defined supplementation increased significantly in both urban and rural areas between 2010 and 2014. He also added that "these drop rates is an urgent task to refine the practice of exclusively breastfeeding across the country." At the same time, there are many reasons for the decline in breastfeeding rates: migration, lack of knowledge about breastfeeding, cultural traditions, lack of support from family members and the widespread availability of products for sale of substitutes for breast milk (formula powder).  At the same time, he appealed to all mothers to take good care of breastfeeding to help the baby get the best start in life and help reduce illness.

Dr. Yim Phyvatho, deputy director of the Kampong Thom provincial Health Department, joyfully expressed his excitement and was happy for the community members in Kleng commune that could come together to celebrate this year 2019 World Breastfeeding Week for awareness and prevention of children health and their future. He also warned participants about the advertisement of dairy products such as Formula milk and pointed out that no other products are better than breast milk. Finally, he raised that the importance of breast milk is very important for the baby as there are a lots of benefits and enable children to avoid from many diseases.

Project EMBRACE (Enhancing Mother/Newborn/Child Health in Remote Areas through Health Care and Community Engagement), is being implemented by ADRA Cambodia. It is primarily funded by Canada’s International Development – Global Affairs Canada department with support from ADRA Canada’s generous donors.