Laura Utemisova, National Coordinator of Public Health programs of the WHO representative office in Kazakhstan. A healthy beginning is a healthy future: WHO in Kazakhstan promotes breastfeeding culture Healthcare On the first of August, the World breastfeeding week starts – an annual campaign, the purpose of which is to increase awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding and creating favorable conditions for its support. In an interview with the UN news service Laura Utemisova, the National Coordinator of the Public Health program programs of the WHO representative office in Kazakhstan, told why this week is especially important this year, which barriers are faced with and how the WHO helps to change the situation. 62 ~ healthy beginning of life “This year, the theme of the week completely coincides with the motto of World Health Day -“ Healthy beginning is a healthy future, ”said Utemisova. According to her, breastfeeding is not just a way of nutrition of babies, but the foundation of the health of the mother and the baby. It reduces the risks of diseases in women, including breast cancer and ovaries, contributes to the establishment of communication between the mother and the child and provides the newborn with natural protection against infections. ~ 60 > “We say that breast milk is the first vaccine of the baby. It contains antibodies that protect against infections, ”she emphasized. 60 ~ h2 > barriers on the way to natural nutrition despite the awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding, women are faced with many obstacles. One of the main ones is the aggressive marketing of breast milk substitutes. “This is one of the most serious threats. Beautifully designed advertisements create a false view that the mixture can be equal or even better than breast milk, ”says Laura. She emphasizes that substitutes should be used strictly for medical reasons, and not as an element of consumer choice. ~ 60 > In addition, there are social barriers – especially with respect to breastfeeding in public places. However, as Utemisova notes, a positive dynamics are already observed in Kazakhstan: “Women are increasingly not afraid to feed on the street, they can hide, but they do it when the child asks. This is already progress. ” Kazakhstani experience: from policy to practice ~ 60 > 62 > 62 > 62 > 62 > 62 ~Since June 1, 2025, a large -scale project for promoting breastfeeding with the support of the Ministry of Health, WHO and the Eurasian Stabilization and Development Fund has started in Kazakhstan. It includes the restoration of the network of “hospitals friendly to the child” – medical institutions where all conditions for maintaining breastfeeding have been created. 62 ~~ 60 > “Now there is training in national coaches. By the end of the year, we plan to train at least 400 specialists in 20 regions of Kazakhstan, ”said Utemisova. These experts will introduce practices in perinatal centers and clinics, and institutions successfully applying standards will be able to get official status. ~ 60 > one of the main conditions is the support of women in the first hours after childbirth: “The child is immediately put on the chest, and trained nurses help to correctly establish the feeding process in order to avoid injuries and make injuries and make Its comfortable. ” state support According to Laura Utemisova, in Kazakhstan the legislation provides women with the opportunity to be with a child under three years old: “This is one of the most powerful tools. A woman can take a vacation to care for a child, and she has a chance to breastfeed for as long as she considers necessary. ”~ 60 > also in some cases a flexible schedule of work is available if the mother decides to return to work earlier. Although this is not always guaranteed by law, in practice there are examples of successful agreements with employers. ~ 60 > family as support WHO in Kazakhstan actively promotes the concept of the entire family in support of the mother. “We say that caring for a child is not only the task of the mother. Support for fathers and family as a whole helps a woman to recover and continue breastfeeding, ”the UN news service interlocutor emphasizes. rethinking traditions ~ 60 > 62 > 62 > 62 > 62 ~ 62Answering the question about folk remedies related to lactation, such as the use of condensed milk or strong tea, Utemisova noted that such products do not directly affect milk production, but can contribute to energy restoration. “Breast milk itself is produced from blood plasma. It is important that the woman at the same time eats well, ”she explained. pandemia lessons ~ 60 > during Covid-19, the mothers persistently recommended breastfeeding to mothers. Despite the initial fears, it was proved that the transfer of the virus through milk does not occur. “We said: continue to feed, observing hygiene and wearing a mask. And this saved a lot of lives, ”recalls Utemisova. she shared her personal story:“ My child, whom I fed exclusively, was in the ward with a child, sick measles. But my son was healthy. Then I was finally convinced of the strength of breast milk. ” simple truths – strong immunity ~ 60 > Laura Utemisova is sure: breastfeeding is not just a topic for medical communities. This is the foundation of the health of the nation. “Simple truths, such as nutrition and breastfeeding, are protected from the worst threats. They need to be repeated again and again, ”she concluded. 60 > WHO and partners in Kazakhstan hope that the efforts to teach, support families and combat commercial pressure will allow even more mothers to feed children with their chests and thereby provide them with a really healthy start to life. ~ 60 > 62 > 62 >