To: The United States Senate
US support for breastfeeding babies must be strong and clear!
According to CNN and The NY Times on July 8th, 2018, a US delegation to the World Health Assembly implemented threats to try and prevent the passage of an international resolution promoting breastfeeding. This position aligned with infant formula manufacturers and contradicted strong research indicating the benefits of breastfeeding for infant health. The resolution was eventually passed with US support, but only after the Russian government reintroduced it using a modified text. We must let the US Department of Health and Human Services know that neglecting to advocate for the well-being of babies is not acceptable.
Why is this important?
Every parent must make the very personal choice of how to feed their baby based on preferences and needs. However, it is imperative that the world clearly convey the many positive benefits of nursing an infant and the US has an obligation to accurately represent this information and always support what is best for babies.