Havana_ The celebration of the World Breastfeeding Week begins today in Cuba to ponder the importance of this act to counteract nutrition, education and poverty disorders, as a guarantee of the health of the mother-child binomial, Prensa Latina reports.

Designed to ensure the growth, development and survival of children through one of the most effective and least expensive means available, the day runs until August 7, with the motto 'Breastfeeding, Pillar of Life'.

Educational meetings with the participation of the community and mass organizations, as well as scientific events guide the activities in Cuba, which aim to unify the support of different social sectors to protect and promote the need for this method of infant feeding that means health for the whole life

During these days the family doctors' offices, polyclinics, maternity homes and hospitals in the country will be informative points for pregnant women and their companions about the need to breastfeed the baby in the first six months of life, and as a complement, until the age of two years.

Scientific evidences show that breastfeeding plays a key role in confronting non-transmissible diseases, and supports inclusive economic growth, as well as the reduction of inequalities.

It is also one of the actions that favors the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, so Cuba focuses on strengthening programs that promote this appropriate practice to provide the newborn with the necessary nutrients.

Breastfed babies have fewer infections and as they grow they show fewer propensities to develop obesity, diabetes, asthma, allergies, high blood pressure, as well as hyperactivity, cancer and tooth cavities. They also have a higher intelligence quoeficient.

Officially set up by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in 1992, the World Breastfeeding Week is a widespread social movement aimed at improving the health of babies around the world.

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