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.

    

World Breastfeeding Week 2018: "Breastfeeding is a solid foundation of life"

World Breastfeeding Week

By Project EMBRACE
Sandan District, Kampong Thom Province
August 20, 2018

On August 20, 2018, members of ADRA Cambodia’s EMBRACE team celebrated World Breastfeeding Week 2018 on the theme of "Breastfeeding is a solid foundation of life and the yearly slogan are Breast milk is an invaluable magic medicine for preventing children from various diseases and breast milk, helping to develop the most intelligent baby brain." in Ngon commune, Sandan district, Kampong Thom province. They highlighted the best result from breastfeeding of mother to communities and key beneficiaries that EMBRACE project is targeting. The session was held in cooperation with the Provincial Health Department, Operational District and the local authorities in Sandan district with total of 250 participants (195 females) come from around Ngon commune Sandan district. Kampong Thom province.

Key Objectives:

1.   Mothers need to start breastfeeding their babies within 1 hour of first delivering, which will be useful first.

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

3.   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 11 am from the Kampong Thom Radio FM105.3 MHz in which we open questions for participants to ask guest speakers and chat related to the event. And the special speakers are PHD, OD and HCs chief and midwives from Sandan district.

Mr. Ken Chamroeun, Senior Assistant Project Manager of the Sandan EMBRACE Project, said the program was designed to raise awareness among the community about breastfeeding and mother's milk only to their baby. He also added that breastfeeding immediately during the first hours after giving birth and can prevent 20% of babies' deaths. Only children who have been breastfed for the first 6 months can reduce diarrhea 11 times and pneumonia 15 times as much as children who have not been breastfed. Long-term breastfeeding is linked to advanced intelligence, good academic performance, and high earning outcomes.  He encouraged mothers to apply the messages from this event to provide better life for all human.

Ms. Sim Sidarath, deputy governor of Sandan District, said that according to the Demographic and Health Survey 2014, the results show that in Cambodia, the complete breastfeeding practice of exclusively breastfeeding was decreased from 73.5% in 2010 to 64.6% in 2014. Breast milk initiation in the first hours after giving birth and continuing breastfeeding to 12 months was found to decrease from 65.3% to 62.6% and to fall down from 83% to 80%. Additionally, predetermined pre-supplemental feeding has increased markedly in both downtown and rural areas between 2010 and 2014. Mrs. Deputy Governor added that seeing these drop rates are the most urgent task to improve the performance of single breast milk throughout the country. At the same time, there were several reasons for the drop in breastfeeding rates, such as: migration, lack of knowledge about breastfeeding, mother culture, cultural traditions, and lack of support from Family members.

Dr. Keo Dary, deputy director of the Kampong Thom Operation District Office, said that people in Ngon commune were lucky enough as we chose the location for the 2018 World Breastfeeding Week because within the area covered by the Kompong Thom Operational District Office, there are only two sites that will be in service. He also pointed out the importance of breast milk for the baby:

1) Breast milk is the first birth control vaccine for infants because the first milk contains antibodies against viruses and the white blood cells more than normal milk.
2) The first mother's milk helps keep the baby's intestines strong because they are rich in nutrients that can help prevent other allergic reactions.
3) Mother's milk is rich in herbs that help reduce the number of infections that can develop in babies.
4) Initial baby milk is small, but it can really respond to baby needs.

In the end, the doctor advised the mother to continue to implement the recommendations and continue to disseminate information to neighbors for understanding and reducing the risk of infant death.

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.

IEC materials: T-shirt: Exclusive Breastfeeding-RLU#5

T-shirt designed for our Project EMBRACE community members to raise awareness about the importance of exclusive breastfeeding:

The message says:

Breastmilk is best enough,

for your child growth from birth until the age of six months.

Our EMBRACE Project Agents of Change (AoCs) are On TV!

Our Project EMBRACE Agents of Change (AoCs) are in the news!

This recent past week was World Breastfeeding Week, and our project team including Agents of Change from ADRA Canada has taken parts in the celebration. Here is the news clip that was broadcasted on the National TV. Check it out!

"The AoC Study Tour is part of EMBRACE, a maternal and child health project led by ADRA Canada and primarily funded by Canada’s International Development – Global Affairs Canada."

Press Release for World Breastfeeding Week!

On August 9, 2017, our project EMBRACE (Enhancing Mother/Newborn/Child Health in Remote Areas through Health Care and Community Engagement), the project led by ADRA Canada, and funded by the Government of Canada, through its agency, Global Affairs Canada, has celebrated World Breastfeeding Week cooperated with Provincial Health Department and the local authority in Sandan district, Kampong Thom province. The event was conducted to raise the awareness to the community about the importance of breastfeeding after there has been report from specialized institution stating that the percentage of exclusive breastfeeding in Cambodia was dropped significantly from 2010-2015. The topic for this year World Breastfeeding Week is: “We together promote breastfeeding for the better future of our children.”

Mr. Roth Rumnea, the EMBRACE project Manager of ADRA Cambodia said that we are glad to be able to celebrate this important World Breastfeeding Week and he shared five key messages during the event:
            1. “We together promote breastfeeding for the better future of our children.”

            2. “Breastmilk is the best nutrition of the baby and child.”

            3. “Born right away, breastfeeding right away, make a child healthy.”

            4. “Immediate breastfeeding within the first hour after delivery save the live of the
                 child alot.”

            5. “Breastfeed your child at least for two years and provide additional meal when the
                 child is six months old and above.”

Mr. Long Kiseung, the governor of Sandan District mentioned about the report of Cambodia Demographic and Health Survey 2014 that shows the practice of complementary and exclusive breastfeeding has dropped from 73.5% in 2010 to 64.6% in 2014. The percentage of immediate breastfeeding within the first hour after delivery and the continuous breastfeeding until the child is 12 months was found dropped from 65.3% to 62.6% and from 83% to 80% respectively. In addition, providing additional food before the right age of the child was increased significantly both in urban and rural areas between 2010 and 2014. He stated that seeing this report of this decreased percentage we have to put in first priority to improve the practice of exclusive breastfeeding in the country to be better. At the same time, we have also found some reasons that caused the drop of the breastfeeding habits such as migration, lack of knowledge and understanding about the importance of breastfeeding, old habits and tradition, lack of support from family members, and the increase of the promotion of baby milk formula sale instead of breastfeeding.

Seeing this decrease in breastfeeding, the Ministry of Health through its National Nutrition Program supported by development partners HKI, Unicef MTI FHI36 Alive, Thrive, Save the Children, and World Vision Cambodia working together to initiate celebrating World Breastfeeding Week again from 2015. In 2017, the National Nutrition program of Ministry of Health collaborated with HKI and relevant development partners launch the celebration of World Breastfeeding Week under the topic: “We together promote breastfeeding for the better future of our children.”

This event was conducted for the whole morning from 7:30am until 11:30 with the participation of representatives from the Provincial Health Department, Provincial Operational Health District, District office, relevant official in Sandan district, development partners, all 3 Health Centers, Commune, Schools, students, and community members totaling 400 participants including the ADRA Canada Agents of Change.

Celebrating World Breastfeeding Week 2017

Today our team is celebrating World Breastfeeding Week. We have approximately 400 participants join the events plus the present of the Agents of Change from Canada who have just arrived in the country!