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Township of Severn Council is recognizing October 1 to 7 as National Breastfeeding Week (NBW) by raising the Breastfeeding Week flag, and to bring awareness to NBW as requested by Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit.
NBW is an opportunity to advocate for improved breastfeeding support for families in Canada and in our community. There are inequalities affecting breastfeeding in our society every day. For example, Indigenous and Black families, as well as people who live in rural and remote areas, are particularly faced with more challenges to meet their infant feeding goals.
Learn more and access support on the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit's website: Breastfeeding (simcoemuskokahealth.org).
Proclamation for National Breastfeeding Week
WHEREAS; Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, and continued breastfeeding for two years and beyond provides unique nutritional and non-nutritional long-term benefits for an infant’s growth and development; and
WHEREAS; The World Health Organization’s Global Strategy on Infant and Young Child Feeding calls on governments worldwide to create environments that enable mothers, families and other caregivers to make informed choices about feeding practices for infants and young children; and
WHEREAS; Breastfeeding is a human right and the Ontario Human Rights Code protects a woman’s right to breastfeed in a public area without discrimination; and
WHEREAS; October 1 to October 7 is recognized as National Breastfeeding Week – an initiative to raise awareness of the numerous benefits of breastfeeding, to strengthen individual, family, and community support for breastfeeding, and to further strategies that promote breastfeeding practices; and
WHEREAS; The global theme for 2024 is Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All. Breastfeeding is of benefit to everyone, and efforts must be made to ensure access to breastfeeding support and opportunities for all. It is essential that no-one is left behind especially vulnerable parents who may need additional support. All levels of government, along with communities and families need to be engaged to close the gap in breastfeeding inequalities and support breastfeeding for all, especially for vulnerable groups.
THEREFORE, I, Mayor Mike Burkett, do hereby proclaim the week of October 1 to 7, 2024 as National Breastfeeding Week in the Township of Severn.