The Blueprint for Action to protect, promote and support breastfeeding across all European countries was launched in Dublin Castle on Friday 18 June 2004.
The decision to develop the Blueprint was based on overwhelming public health evidence showing that protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding is one of the most effective and efficient interventions for improving lifelong health. Breastfeeding makes a major contribution to the present and future health of children and their mothers and it can also significantly reduce health costs for families and public health care systems.
The Blueprint is the outcome of an EU-funded project and its development was coordinated over an 18 month period by Dr. Adriano Cattaneo, Institute of Child Health Burlo Garofolo, Trieste (Italy).
For the first time, an all-European approach has been taken to address common breastfeeding issues.The experts brought together to draw up the Blueprint came from many areas of medicine, nutrition, public health, midwifery and nursing, lactation consulting and voluntary breastfeeding counsellor groups with responsibility for policy, planning, education and delivery of maternity and child health services in the 28 participating countries.
The Blueprint for Action will be delivered to the European Commission, Directorate Public Health and Risk Assessment, before the end of September 2004.
For further information, please contact Dr. Adriano Cattaneo
