Breastfeeding: 
Education for Life 

Breastfeeding provides substances that are nutritionally perfect for human babies and protects them from illness. These are the elements needed for the growth and development of the infant's rapidly growing brain and central nervous system. It also provides the loving interaction that is the basis for the establishment of children's personalities and learning readiness. Breastmilk is the foundation of food security for all the  babies of the world and is one of the world's most valuable, renewal natural resource. It is produced by women everywhere and indeed is the only food equally available to rich and poor alike. In the field of education, there is widespread interest in improving  educational content and in educational reform, yet the importance of breastfeeding and breastmilk are rarely taught at any level. Educators are usually not even conscious of this omission. 

1-7 August 1999 
World Breastfeeding Week 

In this year's World Breastfeeding Week, WABA aims to increase awareness 
in every country and at every level of the significance of breastfeeding and in particular to the development of the child. WABA believes that this very important topic of infant nutrition and care with a focus on integrating knowledge and skills that support breastfeeding into the instructional process deserves attention in all formal and informal educational settings. 

Goals 

• Increase public awareness of breastfeeding as the standard for infant development and growth. 
• Encourage the incorporation of education on breastfeeding and appropriate infant feeding practices into all levels of formal and informal education. 
• Work on relevant curriculum design with all types of educators and trainers from professional institutions, medical and other teaching schools, health organisations, public and private schools and hospitals, and community education centers. 
• Involve students from pre-school up to teenagers in WBW 1999 activities and provide tools for popular education appropriate for different age groups. 
• Encourage the integration of breastfeeding experiences and practices into children's developmental materials and toys. 

• Link with national and/or local educational authorities and discuss ways to integrate breastfeeding in the curriculum of primary and secondary schools. 
• Involve teachers and other educators in discussions on breastfeeding and education, and how to organise for WBW 99. Set up Educators for Breastfeeding groups. 
• Select school books and materials that can readily incorporate breastfeeding information and stories. 
• List all medical, nursing and related health education schools and send them information on breastfeeding education. Follow-up with those who show an interest. 
• Organise art and writing competitions for primary and secondary schools on various breastfeeding themes. 

WABA does not accept sponsorship of any kind from companies producing breastmilk substitutes, related equipment and complementary foods. WABA 
encourages all participants of World Breastfeeding Week to respect and 
follow this ethical stance. 

About WABA 

WABA is a global network of organisations and individuals who believe 
breastfeeding is the right of all children and mothers and who devote 
themselves to protect, promote and support that right. WABA acts to help 
implement the Innocenti Declaration and works in close liaison with 
UNICEF. This WBW '99 calendar is sponsored by UNICEF. 

WABA, PO Box 1200 
10850 Penang, Malaysia 
Tel:  604-658 4816 
Fax:  604-657 2655 
Email:  waba@waba.org.my 

WBW International Coordinator 
 Denise Arcoverde, Av. Beira Mar, 3661 Loja 18 
 Casa Caiada, Olinda, PE 53130-540, Brazil 
 Fax: 55-81-432 7701 
 Email: origem@elogica.com.br 

WBW Coordinating  
and Distributing Centres: 

ASIA 
. WABA Secretariat 
 WABA, PO Box 1200, 10850 Penang, Malaysia 
 Tel: 604-658 4816 
 Fax: 604-657 2655 
 Email: waba@waba.org.my 
  
South Asia 
. BPNI, PO Box 10551, BP-33, Pitampura, 
 Delhi 110 034, India 
 Fax: 91-11-721 9606 
 Email: ritarun@giasdl01.vsnl.net.in 

AFRICA 
. IBFAN Africa, PO Box 781, Mbabane, Swaziland 
 Fax: 268-40546 
 Email: 100100.3270@compuserve.com 

. IBFAN  Afrique Francophone 
 01 BP 1776, Ouagadougou 01, Burkina Faso 
 Fax: 226-303 888 
 Email: ibfanfan@fasonet.bf 

. MAPBIN/ICP 
 PO Box 1134, Port Louis, Mauritius 
 Fax: 230-211 4436 

EUROPE  

. BMAC 
 23 St Andrew's Street, Cambridge CB2 3AX, UK 
 Fax: 44-1223-464417 
 Email: babymilkacti@gn.apc.org 

. GIFA 
 CP 157, CH-1211 Geneva 19, Switzerland 
 Fax: 41-22-798 4443 
 Email: philipec@iprolink.ch 

. AFS 
 SandstraBe 25, 97199 Ochsenfurt, Germany 
 Fax: 49-9331-20585 
 Email: afs.benkert@t-online.de 

LATIN AMERICA 

. IBFAN Latin America 
 Conaplam, 23 Calle 26 - 60, zona 5 
 Guatemala City, Guatemala 
 Fax: 502-335 3711 
 Email: ruth.arango@starnet.net.gt 

. Cefemina 
 Apartado 5355, 1000 San Jose, Costa Rica 
 Fax: 506-224 3986 
 Email: cefemina@sol.racsa.co.cr 

. CEPREN 
Av Pardo 1335, Of 302, Lima 18, Peru 
 Fax: 51-1-241 6205 
Email: cepren@amauta.rcp.net.pe 

Brazil & Lusophone countries 
. Origem group/WABA Brazil 
 (see address WBW intl. coordinator above) 

NORTH AMERICA 

. NABA 
 254 Conant Road,Weston, MA 02493-1756, USA 
 Fax: 1-781-893 8608 
 Email: marshalact@aol.com 

. LLL International 
 1400 N Meacham Road,Schaumburg 
 IL 60173-4840, USA 
 Fax: 1-847-519 0035 
 Email: lllhq@llli.org 

PACIFIC 

. NMAA 
 PO Box 4000, Glen Iris, VIC 3146, Australia 
 Fax: 61-3-9885 0866 
 Email: nursingm@vicnet.net.au 

. Secretary PINDA 
 c/o Community Nutrition, School of Agriculture, USP, Alafua Campus, 
Private Mail Bag, Apia, 
 Western Samoa 
 Fax: 685-22933 
 Email: sio_b@samoa.net 
 
Breastfeeding doll made by Grupo Origem (Brazil)