August 2018
Every year, ITCA WIC local agencies highlight the importance of promoting, protecting and supporting breastfeeding by celebrating World Breastfeeding Week and National Breastfeeding Month during the month of August. This year’s theme of Breastfeeding: Foundation of Life celebrates how breastfeeding prevents hunger and malnutrition and ensures food security for babies, especially in times of crises.
Nutrition, Food Security, and Poverty Reduction:
- Breastfeeding is a natural and low-cost way of feeding babies and children. It is affordable for everyone and does not burden household budgets compared to formula feeding. Breastfeeding can contribute to poverty reduction.
- Breastmilk is FREE. Not breastfeeding results in financial losses of about $302 billion each year. Families worldwide spend about $54 billion every year on formula.
- Exclusive breastfeeding and continued breastfeeding for two years and beyond provide high quality nutrients and adequate energy that can help prevent hunger, undernutrition and obesity. Breastfeeding means food security for infants.
National Breastfeeding Month Infographic
For more information regarding World Breastfeeding Week, check out the following resources:
WABA – World Breastfeeding Week
WHO – Breastfeeding