Doha 11th September 2023: Hamad Medical Corporation recently hosted a variety of awareness activities throughout the month of August to promote and support breastfeeding under the theme: “Enabling Breastfeeding: making a Difference for Working Parents”.
The activities, which were held as an extension of the World Breastfeeding Week, included a seminar organized at Women’s Wellness and Research Center (WWRC) for Young Mothers Group on 16 August and a workshop hosted by Qatar Parenting Network at Workington, Alfardan Center in Al Dafna on 19 August. Both events were led by Dr. Faten Tamim, Breastfeeding Specialist and Baby -Friendly Hospital Initiative Lead and her team from WWRC. In addition to serving as a support group network, the events featured childbirth education, breastfeeding key messages, infant feeding, nutrition and mental health. The main targets for the activities were pregnant and breastfeeding women, especially working mothers, and their families.
A session on the topic, "Balancing Work and Breastfeeding: Empowering Working and Student Mothers" was held at Qatar University on 28 August. The purpose of the session was to raise awareness about the challenges and importance of supporting breastfeeding among working mothers, and to facilitate a discussion among participants from diverse domains, including faculty and students. The session included an engaging interactive segment where participants were encouraged to share their experiences, ask questions, and provide suggestions. This segment fostered a sense of community among attendees and facilitated the exchange of personal anecdotes and practical tips.
To wrap up the month-long activities aimed at promoting breastfeeding awareness and supporting working mothers in their journey to balance both their professional and maternal roles, a closing ceremony was held on 31 August at WWRC. All the activities provided opportunities for participants to reflect on the importance of breastfeeding and the efforts made to create a more supportive environment for working mothers.
In addition to awarding winners of a poster competition, a quiz competition and unit assessments, working staff were also appreciated for engaging in exclusive breastfeeding despite working full time.
During the closing ceremony, the mothers shared their personal experiences and also described the challenges they had faced and the strategies they had adopted to successfully balance their professional responsibilities with their commitment to breastfeeding. These testimonials served as inspirations for other mothers among the audience.
In a closing remarks, Ms. Varsha Hariharan, Lactation Consultant and Clinical Nurse Specialist, WWRC thanked all participants, speakers, and volunteers who had contributed to the success of the Breastfeeding Awareness Program.
World Breastfeeding Week is an annual global observance, initiated by World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), that takes place from 1 to 7 August each year. The purpose of this observance is to raise awareness about the importance of breastfeeding and to promote the well-being of mothers and babies around the world. The week aims to highlight numerous benefits of breastfeeding for both infants and mothers.
