Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) Country Office for Thailand, United Nations Children's Fund for Thailand (UNICEF) and Thai Breastfeeding Center Foundation organize a campaign to promote breastfeeding in an occasion of Mother's Day and World Breastfeeding Week under the concept of "Empower Parents Enable Breastfeeding" for the public to see the importance and benefits of breastfeeding including promoting breastfeeding.
Bangkok, 5 August 2019 - Dr. Panpimol Wipulakorn, Director-General of the Department of Health revealed after the press conference, campaign to promote breastfeeding in an occasion of the Mother's Day and World Breastfeeding Week under the concept of "Empower Parents Enable Breastfeeding" at Kamthorn Suwanakit Building 1, 1st Floor, Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health, according to the survey of the situation of children and women in Thailand Multi-indicator cluster survey conducted by the National Statistical Office together with the United Nations Children's Fund for the year 2016 found that only 40 percent of Thai infants were breastfed within the first hour after childbirth. Only 23 percent baby were exclusively breastfed during the first 6 months of life and only 13 percent of baby have been breastfed for up to 2 years. By 2025, the Ministry of Public Health set a goal to raise the rate of exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months of age to at least 50 percent according to Global target that all countries had set a goal together in 2012.
"Breast milk is a good diet and is most suitable for children because there are more than 200 nutrients that are valuable for the growth of children and have immunity that cannot be obtained from other foods. The baby should get exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months of age. The important technique is “3 sucks”, comprises of; 1) suck early, breastfeeding baby immediately within 1 hour after childbirth; 2) suck frequently, breastfeeding baby at least every 2-3 hours 3) suck correctly, let baby sucks from the mother's breast correctly. Each time should let the baby suck the breast completely to stimulate the production of new breast milk which will be enough for the needs of baby as well" said Dr. Panpimol.
Dr. Renu GARG, Acting of WHO Representative to Thailand, said that breastfeeding alone during the first 6 months of life is the best start for babies and benefits are continued throughout life. Empowering parents to be able to breastfeed, the government should consider implementing policies that support families in breastfeeding such as paid parental leave at least 18 weeks or 6 months if possible. This will help parents raise and bond with their children in the early stages of life which is the most important moment.
Mr. Hugh Delaney, Officer in Charge for UNICEF Deputy Representative for Thailand, said that UNICEF recommends every children is exclusively breastfed during the first 6 months to help children get the best nutrition and immunity. But only 1 in 5 children in Thailand currently exclusively breastfed until 6 months which may result from a variety of reasons, such as social norm that usually give semi-liquid food to babies before 6 months or some parents still have misunderstandings that children is thirsty or want to wash the mouth of the child. Some mothers may worry about their milk quality or think that breastfeeding is not enough. In addition, many mothers still lack of support from the workplace on maternity leave or there is no suitable area for breast pumping and milk storage.
"In an occasion of World Breastfeeding Week, UNICEF urges private sectors to support "breastfeeding" by providing Family Friendly Policies, such as promoting maternity leave policies for parents, supporting subsidies to help reduce the burden of families, supporting breastfeeding corner as well as policies that allow mothers to express and store milk during work hours. All of this will help employers to take better care of their family and create a balance in life when the child is still young. Without the support from family and workplace, the mother will lack of power and encouragement then stop breastfeeding in the end" Mr. Delani said.
Dr. Siriporn Kanchana, President of Thai Breastfeeding Center Foundation, said most of the foundation's activity is empowering breastfeeding mothers by providing support in the case there is a problem with breastfeeding until they succeed. In addition, the foundation has established a volunteer group by bringing successful breastfeeding mothers with volunteer spirit to become a mentor helping mothers who have problems to be able to breastfeed, called "Mae Chuay Mae (Mom help Mom)". Another activity is that the website for communicating various academic information for interested mothers or who have problems, questions, can visit, learn, or answer questions. Another one activity is coordinating between the Government, Private Sectors and NGOs to support breastfeeding especially the establishment of breast milk corner in the workplace in order to encourage working mothers who want to exclusively breastfeed for 6 months successfully.