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Main Page | About WABA | Preamble | The Charter | Resources | Comments | Contact Us |
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 to protect, promote and support breastfeeding! Share with the world your creative ideas and specific actions that would inspire breastfeeding advocates to protect, promote and support breastfeeding! We are developing a list of 99 workable, doable, action ideas to complement the Charter. These ideas will be an active list on this website for sharing and to generate more great ideas! So, if you have any action ideas, we would like to hear from you! Here are some areas for action to trigger your thoughts:
Send your thoughts and ideas to us! Email us at secr@waba.po.my or see contact details below.  Protect Breastfeeding Breastfeeding mechanisms: All governments to keep improved infant and young child feeding high on the public health agenda by developing national breastfeeding policies and establish mechanism for monitoring progress e.g. implementing the Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding and reinforcing existing health and intersectoral structures Research: Explore the many other benefits of breastfeeding, and other ways of feeding if under exceptional circumstances can a mother’s milk be considered unsuitable for infant International Code: Remove constraints and influences that manipulate perceptions and behaviour towards breastfeeding, often by subtle and indirect means, by adopting, implementing and enforcing the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and subsequent relevant World Health Assembly Resolutions provisions Maternity protection: Enable women in employment, formal or informal, to continue breastfeeding by providing them with minimum enabling conditions, for example paid maternity leave, part-time work arrangements, on-site crèches, facilities for expressing and storing breastmilk and breastfeeding breaks New links: Working together with other interest groups on issues that affect breastfeeding such as HIV/AIDS and health and environmental justice groups on communicating the risks of transmission to infants through breastmilk. More research should be done on the risk and its implication towards families and societies Promote Breastfeeding Community participation: Breastfeeding is a community’s responsibility. Reach out and involve the community, including families, governments, health workers, education authorities, mass media and various interest groups, to develop community support groups such as mother-to-mother support groups that empower all people to improve infant and young child nutrition, and thereby their own lives Popular mobilisation: Reinforce the breastfeeding culture by involving and mobilising the general public/communities to be aware of the benefits and issues revolving breastfeeding, taking into account prevailing social, cultural and environmental circumstances Capacity building: Develop the capacity of health and childcare workers, nutritionists, government officials, social workers, citizen groups and the community in general to understand breastfeeding, sound infant and young child nutrition needs, and appropriate international instruments such as the Global Strategy, International Code, Innocenti Declaration, relevant ILO conventions, BFHI and Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative Advocacy: Advocate for the implementation of policies, which include the promotion, protection, and support of breastfeeding and an environment that nurtures sustainable human development, involving the media and citizens groups in creating social pressure and awareness Networking: Link and integrate with networks partners at local, national and international levels that focus not only on breastfeeding, but also broader issues of childcare Support Breastfeeding Virtually all mothers can breastfeed provided they have accurate information and support within their community Health care systems: Create and maintain baby- and mother-friendly health care practices as outlined in the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative and Human Neonatal Care Initiative, and provide adequate and accurate information, support and services for mothers Breastfeeding support: Offer skilled practical help from trained health workers, lay and peer counselors and certified lactation consultants who can help build mothers’ confidence, improve feeding technique and prevent or resolve breastfeeding problems. Ensure education and training for all health workers cover lactation physiology and breastfeeding Mother support groups: Provide every woman access to lay, professional and social support for breastfeeding. Mother support groups can provide support with listening, empathy and respect for her culture Family support: Family to support and encourage mothers to breastfeed Supportive environment: Create breastfeeding-friendly environments at home, workplaces and public areas/facilities Main Page | About WABA | Preamble | The Charter | Resources | Comments | Contact Us World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) |
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