Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure a child’s health and survival. However, fewer than half of infants under six months of age are exclusively breastfed.
During World Breastfeeding Week, which occurs in the first week of August each year, the nutrition, health, and community teams at the Independent Doctors Association participated in an international campaign to raise awareness about the importance of breastfeeding. The campaign carries the slogan, “Let’s make breastfeeding and work, work!”
Throughout the campaign, our staff focused on the role of breast milk, which serves as the ideal food for infants. It is safe, clean, and contains antibodies that help prevent many common childhood diseases. Mother’s milk provides the infant with all the energy and nutrients needed during the first months of life. Moreover, it continues to fulfill nearly half or more of the child’s nutritional requirements during the second half of the first year and up to a third during the second year.
Among the vital information regarding breastfeeding is that breastfed children achieve better results in intelligence tests, are less likely to be overweight or obese, and have a reduced likelihood of developing diabetes in later years. Additionally, breastfeeding decreases the incidence of breast and ovarian cancer in women who practice it.