UGANDA COMMEMORATES THE WORLD BREASTFEEDING WEEK, 2019

Highlights: Vol 4 Issue 3 | July-Sept 2019 | Author: Irene B. Kyamwine, PHFP Fellow

In the 1st week of August every year, Uganda joins the rest of the world to commemorate the world breastfeeding week. This event advocates for breastfeeding to improve the health of babies around the world.

This year’s theme ‘Empower parents to Enable Breastfeeding’ was a call to the public to take part in promoting, protecting, and encouraging breastfeeding.

The breastfeeding week activities included a run, a climax event and breakfast meeting at Hotel Protea that was graced by the Minister of State for Primary Health Care, Hon. Dr. Joyce Moriku Kaducu.

In her remarks, she confirmed that government is set to tighten regultions on maternity and paternity leave. The climax event held in Kiboga District was graced by Hon. Minister of Health Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, Member of Parliament for Kiboga District Hon. Kiwanuka Keefa, representatives from UN agencies and other stakeholders.

During the ceremony, Hon. Dr. Aceng urged employers to put in place avenues to encourage mothers to breastfeed. She also pre- sented awards to the best performing health centres in the baby- friendly health initiative, 2018.

Hon. Minister of Health Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng inspects a stall at the Breast Feeding Week climax event in Kiboga District