Uepa promotes actions for Golden August in defense of breastfeeding and child health

Focusing on the essential role of breastfeeding, the State University of Pará (Uepa), through the Health School Center of Marco (CSEM), and the Digital Health project of CCBS, promotes various actions in reference to Golden August, at the Center for Biological and Health Sciences (CCBS), from August 18 to 22, at Campus II, in Belém.

The program combines the promotion of breastfeeding as a sustainable practice with the university's commitment to care, education, and assistance. This initiative reinforces the role of the Amazonian woman as a guardian of life and highlights breastfeeding as an act of health and affection.

Nurse Ana Lúcia Ferreira, coordinator of CSEM, states that it is essential to disseminate information about the importance of exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months of age to the academic community, staff, users, and the general public, promoting encouragement for this practice for the healthy development of the child.

Breast milk is fundamental for the baby's development and should be introduced from the first hour of life. In Brazil, the Golden August campaign was established by Federal Law No. 13,345/2017, aiming to raise awareness about the importance of breastfeeding, strengthening the support network, and combating misinformation on the subject. The golden color was established by the World Health Organization (WHO) and symbolizes the "gold standard of quality" of milk, which is the most complete food for newborns and has complete nutrition, strengthening the baby's immune system.

According to data from the National Study of Child Nutrition and Feeding (ENANI), published in 2021, the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among children under 6 months in Brazil was 45.8%. The WHO recommends a target of 50%, and the federal government aims to reach 70% by 2030.

Rita Dantas, a nurse who has worked for 20 years in the service of the Maternity Unit of CCBS, reinforces the importance of breastfeeding for the development of the bond between mother and newborn, as well as the exercise of facial muscles, which later facilitates proper speech. The nurse reports that the lack of breastfeeding can affect the child's health with future risks of food allergies, for example.

For women, the benefits of breastfeeding are numerous, both in the short and long term. It helps in postpartum recovery, reducing the risk of hemorrhages and assisting in weight loss; it decreases the chances of developing diseases such as various types of cancer (including breast, ovarian, and endometrial), type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases, for example.

For this reason, the Maternity Unit works with a multidisciplinary team and also acts as a support network for mothers, guiding and following from prenatal care to breastfeeding.

Tachiane Dourado, a resident of Mosqueiro, was referred to the Maternity Unit, where she and her 1 year and 6 months old baby are assisted by professionals from various fields. During the breastfeeding phase, she reported having initial difficulties with the "latch," which were resolved after guidance from the medical team and were essential for the baby's growth. Uepa professor and pediatrician, Márcia Maciel, explains that the child's neurodevelopment is influenced by breastfeeding until the age of two, which is why it is essential for the mother to maintain exclusive breastfeeding until six months and complementary breastfeeding for at least two years.

Institutional commitment to care, education, and assistance
The program organized by the Health School Center and the Digital Health project, from August 18 to 22, emphasizes the importance of valuing breastfeeding, with lectures given by specialists focusing on care and commitment to the beginning of life and the health of new generations, in both online and in-person formats, which can be accessed via the link.

Next Tuesday, the 19th, at 9 AM, the State Breastfeeding Committee will be received in the auditorium of Ueafto, at CCBS. The activity will also include the screening and discussion of the film "TIGERS" and a solidarity scavenger hunt among the academic centers, aimed at collecting bottles for the donation of breast milk and will be open to the academic community, professionals in the field, and the general public.

Among the topics of the in-person and online lectures are "Breastfeeding from the Dental Perspective," which aims to inform about the importance of breastfeeding for the baby's dental development and will be given by pediatric dentistry specialist, Beatriz Carrera; "The Role of the Tongue Tie Test in Promoting Breastfeeding," with professor and pediatric dentist, Leila Maués; and "Prevention of Allergies through Breastfeeding," which will guide lactating mothers on allergy prevention during breastfeeding and will be presented by allergist and immunologist, Vanessa Pereira. The complete program is available on Uepa's Agenda.

CCBS will also hold an action for Golden August at the Maternity Unit on the 28th at 2 PM, which will include guidance for patients enrolled in the Center and will have the participation of nutritionists, pediatricians, and occupational therapists.

Service:

The Health School Center of Marco and the Maternity Unit operate from Monday to Friday, with a set of actions aimed at the health and development of the child, offering services in pediatrics, nutrition, nursing, and other multidisciplinary health services. Campus II is located at Travessa Perebebuí, 2623, Marco neighborhood, in Belém.

Text by Vitória Balieiro, supervised by Diane Maués / Ascom / Center for Biological and Health Sciences