The Friends of Breastfeeding Association of the Health Promotion Department at the Supreme Council for Family Affairs in Sharjah recently organized a number of online lectures and published awareness posts through its social media platforms aimed at raising health awareness among community members about methods of prevention of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) and encouraging mothers to continue to breastfeed their children due to its vital role in immunizing children and mothers from the contagious diseases.

In the same vein, the Association said that it has adopted a number of decisions as part of precautionary measures taken for the safety of customers and employees. Among those decisions were the suspension of renting or receiving breastfeeding devices and supplies from customers and selling breastfeeding supplies through courier services.

The Association has also activated the video conferencing service to ease communication with mothers to answer their inquiries and to provide them with health tips. In addition, the association has continued to organize the Breastfeeding Guides Program (English language) for two hours a day for 9 days, while the Arabic version of the program will resume after Ramadan. As for those engaged in the continuing education initiative, the Association decided to film the training courses and send it to them online.

Supporting the country’s efforts

Eng. Khawla Al Noman, Head of Breastfeeding Friends Association, underlined the Association’s keenness to launch innovative events to support the country’s efforts in countering COVID-19 and help community members overcome this crisis, especially pregnant women and nursing mothers

“The UAE’s sophisticated IT infrastructure enabled us to develop up-to-date campaigns and programs. Recently, we held four virtual meetings to follow up on the initiatives and campaigns, and the educational program we have launched to raise heath awareness of community members and to provide support for breastfeeding mothers,” she added.

Awareness lectures

Al Noman shed light on the Association’s efforts in raising health awareness of mothers infected with COVID-19. This includes 70 posts and 45 awareness videos about COVID-19 prevention and the mechanism of boosting mothers’ and children’s immunity, in addition to providing health tips about healthy eating in Ramadan.

The association also organized two awareness lectures via Facebook Live in cooperation with the association’s volunteers. The first lecture entitled “Motherhood in light of home isolation” and focused on the role of mothers in educating their children about the importance of maintaining healthy habits and behaviors, including washing and sterilizing hands and promoting a culture of hygiene to prevent infectious diseases.

The second lecture entitled “Caring for a pregnant and breastfeeding mother in the time of corona” and focused on the most important preventive measures the pregnant mother should take to prevent the risk of infection with COVID-19, in addition to urging the nursing mothers to continue to breastfeed their children, while adhering to health standards and public safety.