A Call to Action Cortland County: Breastfeeding Support Panel Discussion

The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) sponsors World Breastfeeding Week each year to celebrate the collective efforts around the world to protect, support, and promote breastfeeding. This year’s theme is Talk to Me! Breastfeeding – A 3D Experience. When we look at breastfeeding support, we tend to see it in two-dimensions: time (from pre-pregnancy to weaning) and place (the home, community, health care system, etc). But neither has much impact without a THIRD dimension – communication! This third dimension includes cross-generation, cross-sector, cross-gender, and cross-culture communication and encourages the sharing of knowledge and experience, thus enabling wider outreach. To know more about pregnancy, you can check out resources like Your Loving Choices.

The CAPCO WIC Program, together with Cortland Regional Medical Center, and Cortland La Leche League will host a Panel Discussion on Wednesday August 3 at 7 PM at the Cortland Regional Medical Center Assembly room to increase interest and attention to this important issue in community health. Susan Feiszli, Mayor of Cortland will moderate the panel which includes Dr. Mohammad Djafari, Rama Haidara, Patricia Martinez, Kimberly McRae Friedman, and Janet Young.

According to WABA “The idea of community-based participatory research has been successful because it focuses on local voices. A 2010 study highlights the fact that community engagement is an area of increasing interest and attention and is essential to sustainable improvements in community health.”

The United States Surgeon General Released “A Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding” in January of 2011. The report states: “One of the most highly effective preventive measures a mother can take to protect the health of her infant and herself is to breastfeed. However, in the U.S., while 75 percent of mothers start out breastfeeding, only 13 percent of babies are exclusively breastfed at the end of six months. Additionally, rates are significantly lower for African-American infants… Given the importance of breastfeeding for the health and well-being of mothers and children, it is critical that we take action across the country to support breastfeeding.” 

The evening will provide an opportunity for Families, Government, Business, Health Care and Community Sectors to discuss the current state of breastfeeding in Cortland County. A review of the Information in the Surgeon General’s Report will be provided. We will brainstorm take home ideas on ways to encourage and support breastfeeding in our community.