80 percent of children born last year in Moldova breastfed

Chisinau, 2 August /MOLDPRES/- According to national statistics, in 2020, about 86.9% of newborns were breastfed for up to 3 months, up to 6 months - 78.4% of children, and up to one year, this figure was 65.2 %. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection made public the data on marking World Breastfeeding Week on 1-7 August.

The activities carried out during the World Breastfeeding Week are coordinated by the World Breastfeeding Alliance and promoted by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and other organizations worldwide. This year, the slogan of the event is Breastfeeding and work. Let's make it work! The goal is global mobilization to support and promote breastfeeding as a key factor for the health and well-being of the population.

WHO statistics show that globally, less than 40% of infants under six months of age are exclusively breastfed. If each child were breastfed for one hour after birth, would only be given breast milk in the first six months of life and would continue to be breastfed until the age of two, approximately 800,000 lives would be saved in every year.

Experts say that babies who have been breastfed are less likely to be overweight or obese and perform better on intelligence tests. At the same time, breastfeeding also benefits mothers: it reduces the risk of ovarian and breast cancer, prevents postnatal depression, helps to restore the uterus, is a natural form of contraception (lactation amenorrhea), helps them return to ideal weight.

photo: superbebe.ro