Contact:
Christopher Tittel, Public Information Officer
Christopher.Tittel@FLHealth.gov
(850) 606-8190

Tallahassee, Fla.—The Florida Department of Health in Leon County, the WIC nutrition program, the Capital Area Breastfeeding Coalition and the Capital Area Healthy Start Coalition are co-sponsoring a walk and “big latch” to raise awareness to the health benefits of breastfeeding to both mother and child.

World Breastfeeding Week is marked August 1-7.

On August 4, the public is invited to the gazebo at Lake Ella at 8 a.m. to register for the short walk. Registration is free. The walk starts at 9 a.m. Pets that walk the route must be on a leash.

At 10 a.m., breastfeeding mothers will gather at the gazebo to breastfeed their children as part of the annual “big latch” event. All participants in the day’s activities are encouraged to attend the “big latch” to show their support for the breastfeeding mothers and breastfeeding as good health practice. The “big latch” is held worldwide each year during World Breastfeeding Week.

A raffle will be held immediately after the “big latch.”

The Capital Area Breastfeeding Coalition will have T-shirts on sale for $10 and $12.

“Breastfeeding promotion and education is a major component of the WIC program in Leon County,” Dykibra Gaskin said. “We strive to ensure that all mothers are educated about breastfeeding and receive the resources they need for breastfeeding success.”

Gaskin is public health nutrition program director for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program at DOH-Leon.

According to Gaskin, about 80 percent of mothers in Leon County initiate breastfeeding.

DOH-Leon has breastfeeding peer counselors and staff trained as certified lactation counselors who oversee weekly breastfeeding support groups in the community.

For more information on DOH-Leon’s community outreach on breastfeeding, call (850) 606-8075.

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About the Florida Department of Health

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

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