MERF Celebrates World Breastfeeding Week

This World Breastfeeding Week, MERF is taking the message beyond awareness into communities, health facilities, and conversations with mothers and caregivers across Peshawar.

From the importance of early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding to maternal nutrition, routine immunization, breast cancer awareness, and child health, MERF teams are helping families understand that every healthy beginning matters.

Health awareness becomes meaningful when it reaches people where they live, creates space for questions, challenges misconceptions, and turns information into healthier choices.

During August 2026, Medical Emergency Resilience Foundation (MERF) conducted a series of community awareness sessions across UC Shotal Banda, UC Akhoon Abad, UC Landi Arbab, UC Manakroo, and UC Nouthia Jadeed, engaging mothers, caregivers, and community members on critical issues affecting maternal and child health.

At CD Shotal Banda, a session focused on Breast Cancer Awareness and the ongoing Polio Campaign. Participants were sensitized on the importance of early detection and protecting children through routine immunization and polio vaccination.

At CD Akhoon Abad, community members received awareness on breastfeeding, breast cancer, vaccination, and nutritional needs during pregnancy. The session emphasized the importance of initiating breastfeeding soon after birth, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, and continued breastfeeding alongside appropriate complementary feeding thereafter. The importance of completing children’s routine immunization schedules on time was also reinforced.

In UC Landi Arbab, health teams conducted awareness sessions on breastfeeding benefits and breast cancer self-examination. Mothers were informed about the nutritional and immunity benefits of breast milk, while women were encouraged to remain alert to unusual breast changes and seek timely medical advice when needed.

In UC Manakroo, community members participated in awareness activities covering breastfeeding and breast cancer awareness, including the benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and child and the importance of seeking professional medical advice when concerning changes are noticed.

Meanwhile, in UC Nouthia Jadeed, 22 mothers and caregivers participated in a dedicated Breastfeeding Awareness Session. The interactive discussion covered early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, correct positioning and breastfeeding techniques, continued breastfeeding with complementary feeding after six months, and common misconceptions and challenges.

A child’s first protection does not begin at school, in a hospital, or during a vaccination campaign. It begins from the very first hour of life.

Breastfeeding is more than feeding, it is nourishment, protection, bonding, and a powerful foundation for a child’s healthy growth and development. Colostrum, the first milk, is rich in antibodies and essential nutrients that help protect newborns from infections and support their early development.

But breastfeeding is only one part of the protection journey.

Good maternal nutrition supports healthy pregnancies. Breastfeeding supports early childhood development. Routine immunization protects against vaccine-preventable diseases. Breast cancer awareness and timely attention to unusual changes can save lives.

The lesson is simple: Prevention starts early. Awareness saves time. And informed families build healthier generations.

Through its integrated Primary Healthcare, Routine Immunization, Community Engagement, and Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) efforts, MERF continues to take essential health information directly into communities helping families make informed decisions and strengthening the foundations of healthier communities.

#MERF #CommunityHealth #BreastfeedingAwareness #BreastCancerAwareness #RoutineImmunization #PolioEradication #SBCC #MaternalHealth #ChildHealth #Peshawar