Latest news with #NutritionGuidelines
Qatar Tribune
4 days ago
- Health
- Qatar Tribune
MoPH marks World Breastfeeding Week with awareness drive, events
Tribune News Network Doha The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) is intensifying efforts to raise awareness of the importance of breastfeeding during World Breastfeeding Week, observed globally from August 1 to 7. On this occasion, the MoPH launched an extensive awareness campaign on its social media sites, including publishing messages and videos about the importance of breastfeeding. As part of its campaign, MoPH is organising a series of events and activities in collaboration with partners across the health sector. One key event was held at the MoPH headquarters, targeting public health sector employees. Attendees received information on maternal and infant nutrition, mental health, leave policies and entitlements for breastfeeding mothers, and had the opportunity to ask questions and engage directly with experts. Another awareness event, conducted in partnership with the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), took place at Al Sadd Health Centre. It aimed to support mothers and encourage community participation in promoting optimal nutrition practices for infants and young children. The event welcomed pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, families, healthcare providers, and members of the public. The MoPH is also working with Sidra Medicine to organise a dedicated event to further promote breastfeeding awareness and respond to questions from the public. These efforts form part of a broader initiative by the MoPH and its partners to enhance maternal and child nutrition. Key programmes include the implementation of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, which encourages breastfeeding from the first moments after birth and aims to transform all maternal and child care facilities in Qatar into breastfeeding-friendly centres. In addition, the MoPH is strengthening the capacity of health sector workers by offering training in breastfeeding support and promoting the sharing of best practices. These efforts align with the Ministry's overarching goal of protecting and improving the health of pregnant women, mothers, and their children. Further initiatives include training medical professionals in the use of the World Health Organization (WHO) growth charts for children under five, which help in the early detection of malnutrition, including obesity, underweight, overweight, and stunting. To support these efforts, the Nutrition Guidelines for the State of Qatar for Mother and Child (0–5 years) will soon be published in both Arabic and English. These guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations to support the health of mothers and children during the preconception, pregnancy, and early childhood stages. World Breastfeeding Week is recognised as a key global platform for promoting breastfeeding. In 2018, a World Health Assembly resolution endorsed it as a vital strategy. Led by the WHO, UNICEF, ministries of health, and civil society partners worldwide, the week serves as a reminder to the public and policymakers alike that breastfeeding is fundamental to lifelong health and development.
Qatar Tribune
4 days ago
- Health
- Qatar Tribune
MoPH launches awareness campaign on importance of breastfeeding
DOHA The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has launched an extensive awareness campaign on its social media sites, including publishing messages and videos about the importance of breastfeeding. The MoPH's awareness campaign coincides with World Breastfeeding Week, which runs from 1 to 7 August. On this occasion, the ministry organises several key activities and events during the celebration, including an event at the Ministry of Public Health building targeting public health sector employees on the importance of breastfeeding. During the event, health sector staff were briefed on maternal and infant nutrition guidelines, mental health, information on leave policies and entitlements for breastfeeding mothers, and responding to employee inquiries. The MoPH is conducting awareness events and activities in collaboration with its partners in the health sector to raise awareness of the importance of breastfeeding. One such event, held in partnership with the Primary Health Care Corporation at Al Sadd Health Centre, supports mothers and enhances community participation in promoting optimal infant and young child nutrition practices. This event targets visitors to the centre, including pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, families, health care providers, and community members. The MoPH is organising another event in collaboration with Sidra Medicine to raise awareness about the importance of breastfeeding and to respond to inquiries. The ministry, in collaboration with its partners, is organising several important initiatives and programmes in maternal and child nutrition, promoting breastfeeding and complementary feeding, most notably the implementation of the baby-friendly hospitals initiative to encourage breastfeeding from the first moments after birth, and aims to transform all maternal and childcare facilities into breastfeeding-friendly centres. Additionally, the Ministry is enhancing the skills of health sector workers by providing training to support and encourage breastfeeding, as well as sharing the best practices in this field. The overall goal is to protect and promote the health of pregnant women, mothers, and their babies. The MoPH is also keen to train medical staff to implement the World Health Organisation's (WHO) growth charts for children under five. These charts aim to detect malnutrition (obesity, overweight, underweight, and stunting) early. The Nutrition Guidelines for the State of Qatar for Mother and Child (0-5 years) will be published soon in Arabic and English. They aim to support the health of mothers and their babies through scientific recommendations during the preconception, pregnancy, and early childhood periods. In 2018, a World Health Assembly resolution endorsed WBW as an important breastfeeding promotion strategy. Championed by the WHO, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Ministries of Health and civil society partners around the globe, the World Breastfeeding Week serves to remind the public and policy-makers that breastfeeding lays the foundation for lifelong health and development. (QNA)
