Dubai Health Authority celebrates UAE National Breastfeeding Week 2014.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, November 10, 2014: Dubai Health Authority(DHA) began week-long celebrations to mark national breastfeeding week 2014.

The celebrations took place across Dubai, Hatta , Latifa Hospitals as well as across DHA primary healthcare centres including Nad Al Hamar health centre. The hospitals and health centres arranged several awareness campaigns to raise awareness about the importance of breastfeeding.

Hanan Hamdi, lactation consultant and member of the breastfeeding committee at Dubai Hospital highlighted that breastfeeding has several health benefits for the mother and child and that breastfeeding is known to help prevent babies from developing respiratory illnesses, recurrent ear infections and other health problems. Breastfeeding is also linked to reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. “There are several proven health benefits of breastfeeding to the mother and child. But in order to ensure that more women breastfeed, we need to provide them with support right from the pregnancy stage. Physicians and nurses have an opportunity to emphasize breastfeeding education beginning with preconception visits and continuing through prenatal care, delivery and postpartum care.”

Latifa Hospital is a baby-friendly hospital and all DHA health facilities encourage breastfeeding techniques and provide complete support and counselling to mothers.

Both the hospitals have a dedicated breastfeeding helpline number and patients who are facing difficulties can call to discuss their issues over the phone. Last year, Dubai Hospital received more than 600 calls last year.

Salma Haroon, lactation consultant and member of breastfeeding committee at Latifa Hospital said: “Initiating breastfeeding within an hour of birth and continuing it up minimum 6 months is essential for the baby’s growth and immunity.”

She said research shows that  60 percent of mortality in children under the age of 5 is related to malnutrition. Breastfeeding is one of the most nutritious ways to feed a baby; experts estimate 13 percent of global infant mortality could be avoided by breastfeeding practices alone.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding of children until they are six months old, followed by continued breastfeeding, complemented with other foods, until they are two years old or even beyond.