The Breastfeeding Committee has two very exciting issues for the November meeting. First, we will be supporting “A Call to Action on Breastfeeding: a Fundamental Public Health Issue,” as it goes through its final hearing before APHA adoption. This awesome document was very ably prepared by committee members who bring unprecedented support from four sections: Melissa Bartick is from MCH, Miriam Labbok is incoming chair of the International Health Section, Lissa Ong is a Section Councilor from the Food and Nutrition Section, and the Environmental Health Section has also worked with the authors to include language regarding human milk and the environment. The paper will have its final hearing at the Annual Meeting on Nov. 4. Before the meeting, please take the time to go to the APHA Web site and read it – it is a statement to bring breastfeeding into the 21st century in public health!
Second, there will be two invited sessions on breastfeeding, as well as three oral sessions and two poster sessions. The invited sessions are:
· Infant Feeding Practices Study II: Methods and Sample Characteristics, coordinated by Sara Fein.
· WHO Growth Standards: Background and Rationale for Developing a New International Growth Standard for Infants and Young Children, coordinated by Miriam Labbok.
The Breastfeeding Committee meeting will be Sunday, 2:00 – 3:30 (Session 216.0). With the current discussions in the press and in Congress regarding the national breastfeeding campaign, as well as the many exciting presentations and the position paper, the meeting should be lively and interesting. Please feel free to contact Mary Tully at mrwtully@bellsouth.net if you have items to put on the agenda.