Am. Samoa joins the globe in celebrating World Breastfeeding Week

American Samoa joins the globe in celebrating World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) with more than 120 countries.

Today the Department of Human Social Services, WIC Division, under the Breastfeeding Counseling section, Makerita Smith, spoke about the importance of breastfeeding.

She also acknowledged the government’s support and encouragement of mothers to breastfeed by allowing them two hours off work.

Ms Smith said their teams would be stationed at their branches and the Department of Health Clinics this week.

WBW is celebrated every 1-7 August commemorating the 1990 Innocenti Declaration. WBW started in 1992, with annual themes including healthcare systems, women and work, the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, community support, ecology, economy, science, education and human rights. Since 2016, WBW is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In 2018, a World Health Assembly resolution endorsed WBW as an important breastfeeding promotion strategy.

According to WBW, this year is focused on breastfeeding and employment/work.

"It will showcase the impact of paid leave, workplace support and emerging parenting norms on breastfeeding through the lens of parents themselves.

"Target audiences including governments, policymakers, workplaces, communities and parents will be engaged to play their critical roles in empowering families and sustaining breastfeeding-friendly environments in the post-pandemic work life.

"The theme is aligned with thematic area 4 of the WBW-SDG 2030 campaign."