“Best Start in Life”: Heydar Aliyev Foundation and UNICEF present documentary on breastfeeding
BAKU, June 21 – Today as part of the National Campaign on Breastfeeding, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) presented to public the jointly produced documentary “Best Start in Life”. Providing encouragement and support to mothers to breastfeed their infants, alongside support for the health and well-being of mothers themselves, is an important key to reducing infant malnutrition. “Every mother wants the very best for their baby. We want everyone to know how important exclusive breastfeeding is, because then we are sure mothers will take it up and others will support them in it. If every baby were exclusively breastfed from birth for 6 months, we could save up to 1,000 lives each year in Azerbaijan,” said Mark Hereward, UNICEF Representative in Azerbaijan. A number of key government officials and experts on health and nutrition issues, as well as media and national and international civil society representatives, participated in the event at the Baku Business Centre. Research shows that optimal breastfeeding in the first two years of life, and particularly exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, can have the single largest impact on child survival of all preventive interventions, with the potential to prevent 12 to 15 per cent of all under five deaths in the developing world. “Best Start in Life” was produced as part of the National Campaign on Breastfeeding by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF). This campaign’s goal is to sensitize policy-makers and the general public to the benefits of breastfeeding and its importance. For further information, please contact: Ayna Mollazade, Communication Officer
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