Res. No. 2013 Title Resolution recognizing the week of August 1st to August 7th as World Breastfeeding Week. Body By Council Members Perkins, Eldridge, Linares, Lopez and Quinn; also Council Members Marshall, Robinson, Michels and Abel Whereas, Breastfeeding provides ideal nutrition for infants, and imparts benefits to the infant such as increased disease immunity and greater general health; and Whereas, Breastfeeding also benefits mothers by reducing risks of breast and ovarian cancer, and by helping to increase spacing between pregnancies, reducing strain on the body; and Whereas, These benefits increase with increased exclusivity of breastfeeding from birth to an age of 4-6 months, and can be integrated into a larger nutritional program as the child ages; and Whereas, Recognizing its manifold benefits, the U.S. Congress, in an effort spearheaded by New York Representative Carolyn Maloney, has taken action to encourage breastfeeding, working to create breastfeeding-friendly workplaces, to ensure the safety of breast pumps sold in the U.S., and to increase funding to the WIC breastfeeding education and support initiative; and Whereas, The benefits of breastfeeding have also been recognized and its practice encouraged by international organizations such as the World Health Organization and UNICEF; and Whereas, Encouragement of breastfeeding is critical to creating a culture accepting of it, and to increasing its practice among new mothers; and Whereas, To that end, the week of August 1 to August 7 has been declared World Breastfeeding Week; and Whereas, On August 1st, the Breastfeeding Coordinator of New York City WIC Programs will launch the week-long education and awareness campaign with Breastfeeding Awareness Day at Harlem's Marcus Garvey Park; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York recognizes the week of August 1st to August 7th as World Breastfeeding Week. SF:bg D-Res.#6 LS#4486 7/20/01 |10
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