Report from Lebanon

Iman El-Zein El-Salah, president of the Lebanese Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (LABA), reports that LABA arranged for television programming on six local television stations during World Breastfeeding Week. The programs were seen in Lebanon and other neighboring nations. The shows focused on this year's WBW slogan, "Exclusive Breastfeeding: The Gold Standard... Safe, Sound, Sustainable."

Topics included the symbolism of the golden ribbon, the global strategy, overcoming difficulties faced by mothers choosing to exclusively breastfeed, complementary feeding, and reasons to breastfeed for 2 years. Two employed women discussed their successful breastfeeding experiences and the difficulties they overcame. Lebanon's new breastfeeding law was stressed in all episodes and one program talked about the International Code and the role of IBFAN. Also, a poster and a brochure about WBW were printed by UNICEF and distributed to hospitals, health centers, and NGOS.

Report from Pomona, California, USA

Indian Hill WIC Center celebrated World Breastfeeding Week with a wonderful breastfeeding event. Over one hundred mothers attended to celebrate.

There were guest speakers and many donations of items that were given away as prizes.
It was great to see all those healthy, happy, breastfed babies.

Sydney, Australia

Karys Fearon, IBCLC, reported on a very successful "Breastfeeding Awareness Week" celebrated with a large display in a hospital foyer and a smaller one on the maternity ward. The local Australian Breastfeeding Association council donated 2 large Australian native plants for the first two deliveries on August first and a small "black tube" native plant for every other breastfeeding mother who delivered during the whole week. There was also a write up in the local paper with a photo of a breastfeeding twin mother but not with the babes at the breast. The male photographer felt the breast photos on the display were "too emotive" to photograph and publish!