VIETNAM NUTRITIONAL PORTAL
Hanoi, 1 August 2017 – World Breastfeeding Week 2017 begins today with the theme “ Sustaining Breastfeeding Together” , highlighting the importance of strengthening collaboration between governments, non-governmental organizations, research institutions, development partners, the private sector and others to promote policies and programmes to improve breastfeeding.
“Breastfeeding is not just a woman’s job, but requires encouragement and support from counselors, family members, health care workers, employers, policy makers and other partners. We are committed to working with all parties to create a favorable environment for women and children to grow up healthy,” said Associate Professor , Dr. Le Danh Tuyen, Director of the Institute of Nutrition.
Recent evidence from around the world shows that improving breastfeeding practices is crucial to improving the health of mothers and children and promoting economic growth. The Lancet 2016 on breastfeeding found that breastfeeding reduces health care costs and contributes to a stronger workforce. The cost of lower cognitive performance due to not being breastfed is estimated at US$300 billion per year, representing 0.49 percent of gross national income. Recent research by leading health economists in the report The Cost of Non-Breastfeeding in Southeast Asia [i] , with support from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Alive & Thrive Project, estimates that optimal breastfeeding in Vietnam could save the health system US$23.36 million per year in treating sick children, while avoiding the loss of approximately US$70.4 million in annual salaries if children's learning abilities were improved.
Yet globally, only 40% of children under 6 months of age are exclusively breastfed (breast milk is the only food) for the first six months of life, according to the Global Breastfeeding Index, a new report released today by UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO). Only 23 countries have exclusive breastfeeding rates above 60%.
A new analysis shows that investing just US$4.70 per newborn per year could increase exclusive breastfeeding rates for children under six months of age by 50% by 2025. “Our new analysis shows that achieving this target could save the lives of 520,000 children under five and potentially generate US$300 billion in economic growth over the next 10 years through reduced illness and health care costs and increased productivity,” said Dr. Friday Nwaigwe, Chief of Child Survival and Development at UNICEF Viet Nam. “In Viet Nam, improving breastfeeding could save 2,011 children each year, making a significant contribution to reducing under-five mortality. 1 ”
To celebrate Breastfeeding Week, the National Institute of Nutrition, the Alive & Thrive Project and Hanoi University of Science and Technology launched the first online training program on infant and young child feeding on 31 July 2017. The lectures are based on a training curriculum approved by the Ministry of Health and can be certified for health workers who are currently or will be providing advice on infant and young child feeding. The training program includes 20 topics with a duration of 48 hours.
UNICEF has been working with the business community to promote exclusive and continued breastfeeding in the workplace, demonstrating its commitment to the Children’s Rights and Business Principles. UNICEF Viet Nam and iCare Benefits, a social enterprise that provides its employees with beneficial workplace programmes, will launch a campaign to increase awareness and practice of exclusive and continued breastfeeding among female workers in factories. The campaign targets the two million iCare members in Viet Nam, the majority of whom are migrant workers and mothers. The campaign will also engage factory management on these issues.
“ Our survey of factory workers in May 2017 showed that although workers are somewhat aware of the importance of exclusive breastfeeding, maintaining the habit of exclusive and continuous breastfeeding after maternity leave is still a real challenge for new mothers. Therefore, in addition to raising awareness among new and pregnant mothers about the importance of exclusive and continuous breastfeeding, how to express and store breast milk, we will also advocate with the Union and the Human Resources department to implement new tools and policies, such as providing breast pumping equipment and improving access to lactation rooms for female workers. Companies and company leaders need to support female migrant workers,” said Mr. Trung Dung, CEO and Founder of iCare Benefits.
Breastfeeding is critical to achieving many of the Sustainable Development Goals, improving nutrition (SDG 2 – Zero Hunger), preventing child mortality and reducing the risk of infectious diseases (SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-Being) and supporting cognitive development and education (SDG 4 – Quality Education). Breastfeeding also contributes to poverty eradication, economic growth and reduced inequality.
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[i] Walters, Dylan et al.,The cost of non-breastfeeding in Southeast Asia. Health Policy and Planning, 2016