Groote Schuur Hospital – BREASTFEEDING AWARENESS WEEK 1 – 7 AUGUST 2019

World Breastfeeding Week was first celebrated in 1992 by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) and is now observed in over 120 countries.  Each year WABA selects a theme and logo for World Breastfeeding Week. The theme for 2019 is “Empower Parents. Enable Breastfeeding”

Groote Schuur has been participating in this initiative since 2012 as they too, identified the benefits of creating awareness and drawing attention to Breastfeeding and its many benefits.

Groote Schuur Hospital Maternity department held a campaign during the week of 1-7 August to promote awareness about the benefits and importance of breastfeeding.  Breastfeeding is in the mother’s domain and when fathers, partners, families, the workplace, and community support the mother, breastfeeding improves.

Campaign Activities

Visual and multimedia aids were used to highlight the importance of breastfeeding.  A crowd of bystanders followed the day’s activities which focused on the benefits of breastfeeding as well as the disadvantages of not breastfeeding.  Gifts were given to correct answers and to those who showed further interest.  Spot prizes were given to mothers who are currently exclusive breast feeders, including antenatal mothers.