Texas Children’s Global Health Network is shining a light on its partners in Colombia and Argentina for World Breastfeeding Week, the global campaign held from August 1-7 that aims to galvanize action on breastfeeding and related issues.
Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure child health and survival, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO and UNICEF recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of the child’s life and after this period, accompanied by appropriate complementary feeding for up to two years and beyond, in order to ensure adequate growth and development of children.
Both sponsored by Chevron, the Global Health Network programs in Latin America provide a holistic approach to caring for children, women and families with three primary goals: to reduce maternal and under-5 mortality among the most disadvantaged people; improve health system responsiveness to these groups; and catalyze sustainable change that focuses on socioeconomic factors that shape a community’s health, like economic opportunity and education.
To see a video about the work taking place in Argentina, click here. To see photos from the Sala de Lactancia Materna in Colombia, a breastfeeding room inaugurated in June, scroll through the gallery at right.
Argentina
Fundación Baylor Argentina promotes breastfeeding throughout the year, providing support from the beginning of pregnancy through the postpartum period while also educating the mother’s family support group.
From the first appointment with the obstetrician, the foundation team advises mothers on feeding during pregnancy and explains exclusive breastfeeding and the changes that the gestational state will cause. During pregnancy, mothers are also referred and advised to consult the nutritionist of the Fundación Baylor Argentina. The nutritionist explains how pregnancy is the ideal time to reflect on feeding the baby and learn about the benefits in the short, medium and long term. The nutritionist also inquires about the mother’s previous knowledge and experience and details the possible complications that may arise. After childbirth, they encourage the mother to visit their office with any questions or challenges she may have.
Another fundamental aspect of Fundación Baylor Argentina activities is supporting the donation of breast milk. In the province of Neuquén, there is a breast milk bank that collects donations and arranges the adequate transport of donated milk. The foundation provides support to the donor mother where she needs it and helps to explain the requirements, arrange the rigorous blood tests and, if the patient accepts, contacts the patient with the provincial breast milk bank. They are attentive to the entire process to solve any problem.
Fundación Baylor Argentina supports the Añelo Hospital and is accredited by the Neuquén Ministry of Health as a Friendly Center for Lactation.
Colombia
Working to address nutritional problems in children under five in the state of La Guajira, Fundación Baylor Colombia operates the Anenawachon Nutritional Recovery Center in partnership with the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare (ICBF). They provide care for children suffering acute malnutrition within the Wayuu indigenous communities that are located in the middle and upper Guajira, as well as the Venezuelan refugee population. Children recover in an environment characterized by health education and constant support in the company of their parents, under the watch of a multidisciplinary team of professionals who provide timely care to help them overcome this condition.
About 1 in 3 children under 6 months in Colombia – approximately 36 percent – are exclusively fed breastmilk. Fundación Baylor Colombia aims to reinforce this practice in order to reach the international goal of 50 percent set by WHO. In conjunction with Save the Children, the foundation inaugurated the first breastfeeding room for the municipality of Manaure on June 10, 2021. Its purpose is to educate and create warm and friendly spaces for the extraction and conservation of breast milk in the Nutritional Recovery Center of Manaure.
The breastfeeding room is a strategy that responds to the need of supporting women who are breastfeeding, and seeks to provide women with a private, hygienic and safe place, with optimal environmental conditions, which allow breastfeeding to be carried out with dignity. Texas Children’s Global Health Network believes this is a great step to continue fighting malnutrition, demonstrating that when we come together, we can do more.
