DHSS Press Release |
Date: July 25, 2005 DHSS-71-2005 |
| Vincent P. Meconi, Secretary Jay Lynch, Communications Director (302) 255-9037, Pager (302) 247-8523 Email: jay.lynch@state.de.us |
Contact: Heidi Truschel-Light Phone: (302) 744-4907 Pager: (302) 247-1560 |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PUBLIC INVITED TO CELEBRATE WORLD BREASTFEEDING WEEK AT THE LATIN AMERICAN COMMUNITY CENTER ON AUG. 5
Bilingual guest speaker will explain importance of breastfeeding
Delaware's Division of Public Health (DPH) will highlight the benefits of breastfeeding during an Aug. 5 open house at the Latin American Community Center (LACC) in Wilmington. The open house runs from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the center, located at 405 N. Van Buren St. and includes refreshments and a $100 raffle prize. Guest speaker Helen Jackson, BSN will explain the importance of breastfeeding. Jackson, a lactation consultant with Christiana Care, will present in both English and Spanish.
Visitors can explore the LACC's specially-equipped room for mothers to privately nurse their infants or express breast milk while away from home. The U.S. Department of Agriculture provided special funding for the breastfeeding room to encourage clients and employees to breastfeed their children.
Women who receive breastfeeding peer counseling before and after giving birth are more likely to breastfeed for at least six weeks, according to Delaware WIC. Three new breastfeeding peer counselors (one at LACC and two in Sussex County) begin work Aug. 1. They join WIC's three current counselors who breastfed their children for at least four months.
Delaware's Infant Mortality Task Force has recommended breastfeeding as a beneficial practice. Delaware's WIC Program promotes breastfeeding for these and other benefits:
- Breastfed infants have lower infant mortality rates, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
- Breastfed infants are statistically half as likely as formula-fed infants to be seriously ill, and 10 times less likely to be hospitalized for bacterial infections before their first birthday. Breastfed babies develop fewer middle ear and urinary tract infections, gastroenteritis, respiratory illnesses, and meningitis. Breastfed infants also respond better to vaccinations.
- Breastfed babies require at least $1,400 less in healthcare costs in their first year of life, compared to babies that were not breastfed.
Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.
