World Breastfeeding Week is an annual event that celebrates the importance of breastfeeding for the health of both mothers and children.

Mother Support: Reclaiming our Breastfeeding Culture is the theme for this year and it builds on the need for the support of society at all levels for breastfeeding.

Most of us have heard and know that breast is best. However, expectant women and breastfeeding mothers need supports to help them start and continue to breastfeed once their baby is born. These include accurate and timely information, encouragement, skills, practical help and understanding from those around them.

According to the 2005 Canadian Community Health Survey, only 23 per cent of babies in Simcoe Muskoka are exclusively breastfed until six months.

There is strong evidence that increased breastfeeding rates would reduce childhood illness and chronic disease in Canada.

If all children were breastfed exclusively for six months, and breastfeeding continued for up to two years and beyond, global under-five mortality and morbidity rates would be drastically reduced.  This recommendation is supported by the World Health Organization and the Canadian Paediatric Society.

Breastfeeding is not just the mother's responsibility.

Our community, government and health care system have important roles to play in making sure our culture supports breastfeeding.

Community support comes in many forms, such as linking new mothers to breastfeeding support groups and clinics, as well as protecting a mother's right to breastfeed in public spaces without fear of harassment. Support in the workplace would help women returning to work following maternity leave to continue breastfeeding.

Governments and our health care system can support breastfeeding by putting in place policies that promote this important part of mother/child health. The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF outline standards for breastfeeding support in their Baby-Friendly Initiative.

Unfortunately, only 18 health facilities in Canada currently meet the Baby-Friendly standards; Brazil, in contrast, already has 200 Baby-Friendly institutions.

As a part of creating Baby Friendly Communities, adopting the WHO/UNICEF International Code of Marketing of Breast milk Substitutes would support breastfeeding.   This code bans misleading advertising of infant formula, as well as the donation of free supplies of infant formula to the health care system by manufacturers.

By putting the emphasis on breastfeeding rather than formula, new moms can develop the confidence needed to feed their babies naturally for as long as possible.

For more on ways to support families to make informed decisions about infant feeding, and give them the support they need to reach their breastfeeding goals, call Your Health Connection Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 721-7520 (1-877-721-7520) and speak with a public health nurse.

Dr. Susan Surry is one of Simcoe Muskoka's associate medical officers of health and a paediatrician.