The Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department at Al Wakra Hospital (AWH) has organised a campaign which will run until May 26 to raise public awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding.
The campaign is being held in collaboration with the Mother and Child Education Clinic to raise public awareness of the importance of breastfeeding and how it can benefit future generations. Until Thursday, the public can visit the hospital’s Outpatient Department to ask experts questions and attend educational workshops in English and Arabic that will outline the ten-steps to successful breastfeeding as well as highlight the difficulties that breastfeeding women can face.
“Breastfeeding creates a strong bond between mother and child and holds significant health benefits for both mother and infant,” said Dr Mohamed Alloub, senior managing consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology for AWH.
“For mothers, these benefits include burning extra calories allowing them to lose pregnancy weight faster, reducing uterine bleeding after birth and lowering a women’s risk of suffering from breast and ovarian cancer.”
Alloub adds, “Breastfeeding will also lower a baby’s risk of having asthma or allergies and babies breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months, without any formula, have fewer ear infections, respiratory illnesses and diarrhoea. We hope members of the community will join us to learn more about the importance of breastfeeding and benefits,” adds Dr Alloub.