Mohave County -World Breastfeeding Week occurs every year from August 1st – August 7th to raise awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding. The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action organizes the event, celebrated in 120 countries, which includes the signing of the WHO/UNICEF document, Innocenti Declaration, which lists the benefits of breastfeeding, and outlines global and governmental goals.
Thousands of breastfeeding people and their babies/children from around the world will gather August 2 – 4 at 10:30 AM in their communities to take part in the Global Big Latch On, a synchronized breastfeeding event.
The Global Big Latch On provides the opportunity for breastfeeding women to get together in their local communities, host events, and identify opportunities for on-going support.
Breast milk provides a baby with a variety of nutrients and other components which includes: antioxidants, enzymes, immune properties, and live antibodies from the mother to help build a stronger immune system, fight infection, prevent disease, and contribute to normal healthy development. Breastfeeding also protects against a variety of diseases and conditions in the infant including diarrhea, respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, lymphoma, leukemia, Hodgkin’s disease, and childhood overweight and obesity.
The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months of a baby’s life to optimize these benefits, and continuing to breastfeed for two years and as long as is mutually desired by a woman and her child.
The goal this year is to break the current Global Big Latch On record of 21,500 children breastfeeding at 778 locations, across 28 countries.
The Mohave County Department of Public Health will be conducting events throughout the county to celebrate breastfeeding and support local, state, national, and global awareness on the importance of breastfeeding.
Friday, August 2, 2019, Bullhead City Library, Community Room B, 1170 E. Hancock Rd. (9 a.m. – noon)
Saturday, August 3, 2019, Lake Havasu City Library, Community Room A, 1770 N. McCulloch Blvd. (9 a.m. – noon)
Saturday, August 3, 2019, Kingman Regional Medical Center, Wellness Center, Cerbat and Hualapai Rooms, 1719 Beverly Ave. (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.)
For more information please contact Brenda LoBue, R.D., I.B.C.L.C., Brenda.lobue@mohavecounty.us, (928)753-0794 ext. 4478
