World Breastfeeding Day commemorated
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sun, 08/08/2010 9:08 AM
World Breasfteeding Day: Two mothers breastfeed their toddlers during World Breastfeeding Day 2010 event at National Monument in Jakarta, on Sunday. The event was held to mark the day, which falls on Aug. 8. JP/Nurhayati
First lady Ani Yudhoyono and a number of top government officials attended the national commemoration of the World Breastfeeding Day at the National Monument compound in Central Jakarta on Sunday morning.
About 3,500 activists of the national breastfeeding movement were invited to the event, which this year was themed “Breastfeeding: Ten steps to loving babies”.
Representing the government, Ani will present awards to the wife of Jakarta governor Tati Fauzi Bowo and head of the Klaten, Central Java health agency Ronny Roekmito for their prominent role in promoting breastfeeding.
The national census between 2004 and 2008 revealed that exclusive breastfeeding rate increased from 58.9 percent in 2004 to 62.2 percent in 2007, but fell to 56.2 percent in 2008.
Health Minister Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih said the government would step up the campaign for breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding promotes health, helps to prevent disease, and reduces health care and feeding costs. The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life and then supplemented breastfeeding for at least one year and up to two years or more.
