Emirates Health Services launches World Breastfeeding Week awareness campaign

DUBAI, 3rd August, 2022 (WAM) — Emirates Health Services (EHS) launched a social media awareness campaign celebrating World Breastfeeding Week, which is taking place from 1st to 7th August, 2022.

The campaign provides a trove of advice and information for mothers about breastfeeding, emphasising the importance of early initiation of breastfeeding within one hour after birth, and making breast milk the main source of nutrition for the infant from birth for at least six months. This is one of a series of campaigns organised by EHS to raise community health awareness and provide an opportunity for engagement with members of Emirati society.

In the awareness campaign, prominent facts and benefits of breastfeeding are highlighted, which include providing adequate nutrition for the child, facilitating healthy digestion, enhancing immunity, reducing abdominal pains and loose bowels, reducing the risk of obesity and diabetes, subduing allergies and eczema, and supporting the mental and physical development of the child.

Furthermore, the campaign highlights the benefits of breastfeeding for mothers, explaining how it strengthens the bond between mother and child, assists in reducing weight gained during pregnancy, contributes to the return of the uterus to normal position after birth, reduces postpartum bleeding, delays ovulation (making it a natural contraceptive), and reduces the risk of postpartum depression.

General advice on breastfeeding is presented, which includes choosing the appropriate position and the continuation of breastfeeding until the age of two with the introduction of solid foods.

Emirates Health Services provides, among many health services, breastfeeding consultations and postpartum services, available for breastfeeding mothers at primary healthcare centres and designed to raise their awareness about the importance of breastfeeding and proper nutrition.