HKI Celebrates World Breastfeeding Week

August 1, 2008, Freetown, Sierra Leone – Helen Keller International (HKI), in collaboration with UNICEF and the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, celebrated this year’s World Breastfeeding Week in a ceremony that also introduced the National Protocol for the Treatment of Severe Acute Malnutrition. The First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone Mrs. Sia Nyama Koroma, led the celebration; other dignitaries in attendance included the Honorable Minister of Health and Sanitation, Country Representatives from WHO and UNICEF, and the new Director of the Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) program who chaired the celebration.

The theme of this year’s Breastfeeding Week stresses the importance of supporting mothers so they can successfully breastfeed their infants. Exclusively breastfeeding of infants immediately after birth up to six months of age is one of the least expensive and most cost-effective child survival interventions, and has the potential to avert 13% of the more than 10 million annual deaths among children under 5 worldwide. Promoting optimal breastfeeding is especially critical in Sierra Leone where 159 out of every 1000 babies die before their first birthdays. Breast milk is free, safe and healthy, and contains essential infection-fighting elements and nutrients designed by nature to meet the ever-changing needs of infants.

HKI promotes optimal breastfeeding through its Essential Nutrition Actions (ENA) framework and by using behavior change communications techniques to help mothers and key support groups try new and healthier practices. Leading up to Breastfeeding Week, HKI supported radio and TV discussion programs and helped produce radio jingles and songs in four major local languages on both vitamin A and exclusive breastfeeding thanks to funding provided by Standard Chartered Bank’s Seeing is Believing initiative. These materials were sent to all 13 districts in the country and will be aired throughout the week.

In addition to speeches from the participants, the launch included a skit performed by local artist Vicky Fornah and her group which composed songs that promote the health benefits of exclusive breastfeeding and vitamin A supplementation for children 6-59 months. The highlight of the day was the presentation of golden bows and certificates to 100 mothers who have practiced exclusive breastfeeding and brought their healthy, strong infants for everyone to admire.

Left: First Lady Mrs. Sia Nyama Koroma presenting certificate and golden bow to mother. Right: Vicky Fornah and her group during the melodrama.