For Immediate Release
August 2, 2007
| For additional information contact: |
| Amy Morris, Community Relations Coordinator, (616) 632-7110 |
Kent County Health Department Recognizes August as World Breastfeeding Month
(Grand Rapids, MI) – August marks the beginning of World Breastfeeding Month, a time each year when community organizations and health professionals spotlight the benefits of breastfeeding.
The theme for this year’s campaign is “The Power of One” and is designed to promote breastfeeding as the optimum and preferred method of infant feeding for the first year of life. Studies indicate that breastfeeding reduces infants’ risk of ear infections by up to 50 percent and serious lower respiratory tract infections by 72 percent. Infants who breastfeed are also less likely to be obese
“Breast feeding is so important during a child’s first year. Breast milk is the only infant food that protects them against infection and disease while offering health improvement benefits throughout their lives,” said Cathy Raevsky, Kent County Health Department’s Administrative Health Officer.
Encouraging mothers to breastfeed their infants and encouraging the community to support breastfeeding are important steps in health promotion in Michigan. The benefits for the state include not only a healthier population, but also a significant reduction in health care costs now and in the future.
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The Kent County Health Department (KCHD) has been in the business of providing health services to the whole of Kent County since 1931. It is made up of four divisions: Administration, Community Clinical Services, Community Nursing and Environmental Health. The Health Department is home to nearly 260 employees including public health nurses, sanitarians, health educators, technicians, and public health administrators. KCHD operates five satellite clinics located in Wyoming, Kentwood, Rockford, Sheldon Complex and the Westside of Grand Rapids. The Health Department is also home to the Kent County Animal Shelter. To learn more about our services visit www.accesskent.com/health
