Khairpur, The Indus Hospital and Health Network (IHHN), in partnership with UNICEF, successfully concluded World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) 2023 with a focus on educating communities about the importance of breastfeeding for the health of infants and mothers. The initiative is part of a broader effort to improve breastfeeding rates in Pakistan, which currently stand at 38%, below the World Health Assembly’s target of 50% by 2025.

According to The Indus Hospital, the World Breastfeeding Week Inauguration Awareness Seminar was held on August 7th at the District Health Office (DHO) in Khairpur, Pakistan. The event was a collaborative effort involving the Community Engagement Center – Karachi team, the Shifa Foundation, UNICEF, and the Government of Sindh. The seminar attracted around 80 participants, including government representatives, health officers, Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) counselors, and Nutrition Assistants from IHHN and the Shifa Foundation.

The seminar included presentations on the IHHN and UNICEF Flood Relief Program, an overview by the Khairpur District Coordinator from the Shifa Foundation, and informative sessions on breastfeeding led by experts like Dr. Falak Sher and Dr. Shahid Khaskheli, ADHO.

Breastfeeding Week was celebrated at seven facilities across Khairpur and Dadu, featuring IYCF Corners, Breastfeeding Corners, and awareness sessions aimed at Pregnant and Lactating Women (PLWs). These activities were designed to create a supportive environment for breastfeeding and increase awareness of its benefits.

A total of 93 awareness sessions were conducted during the week, reaching 1,341 individuals. Screenings were also carried out to assess malnutrition levels among 1,381 PLWs and 803 children under five years of age.

The success of the initiative was largely due to the efforts of Nutrition Assistants, IYCF personnel, and youth champions across the IHHN facilities, who played a key role in the effective execution of the awareness campaign.