July 25, 2017

SUSTAINING BREASTFEEDING TOGETHER DURING WORLD BREASTFEEDING WEEK, AUGUST 1-7

Contact:
Jennifer S. Sexton
Jennifer.Sexton@flhealth.gov
941-624-7200 extension 7279

Port Charlotte, Fla. – The Florida Department of Health in Charlotte County (DOH-Charlotte) is setting aside the week of August 1-7 to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week.  This year’s theme is Sustaining Breastfeeding Together.   

“The simple, precious act of breastfeeding a child has health benefits for both mom and baby,” said Michelle Thermidor, Certified Lactation Counselor for DOH-Charlotte.  “What might be a lesser known fact is that breastfeeding also has an impact on sustainable development.  For example, breastfeeding impacts poverty, as it is a natural and low-cost way of feeding babies and children.  Breastfeeding is also a form of responsible consumption, as it provides a healthy, non-polluting, non-resource intensive source of nutrition.”

The Sustaining Breastfeeding Together theme is aimed at encouraging communities across the globe to inform residents of how impactful breastfeeding can be, beyond the obvious benefits, and further protecting, promoting, and supporting breastfeeding as a natural way to feed babies and children.  In addition to its link to poverty and responsible consumption, breastfeeding is linked to good health and wellbeing, quality education, human rights, gender equality, and healthy equity.

“The Women, Infants, and Children program at the Department of Health always promotes breastfeeding to our families,” said Thermidor, “but we will be shining an even brighter light on it during World Breastfeeding Week.”

In addition, the Charlotte County Board of County Commissioners presented a proclamation to DOH-Charlotte on July 25th proclaiming August 1-7 2017 to be known as World Breastfeeding Week in Charlotte County.

To learn more about how communities across the world are joining together to improve on sustainable development through its link to breastfeeding, please go to www.worldbreastfeedingweek.org. 

About the Florida Department of Health

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

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