Office of the Mayor

Proclamation

Lawrence, Kansas

WHEREAS: All available knowledge indicates that human milk optimally enhances the growth, development, and well-being of the infant by providing the best possible nutrition, protection against specific infection and allergies, and the promotion of maternal and infant bonding; and

WHEREAS: Breastfeeding promotes healthier mothers and benefits society through lower health care costs for infants, a healthier workforce, strong family bonds, and less waste; and

WHEREAS: Breastfeeding is recognized by the several organizations, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the American Dietetic Association, and the National Association of WIC Directors as the preferred method of infant feeding and they support breastfeeding throughout the first two years of life; and

WHEREAS: Breastfeeding is identified by the U.S. Surgeon General and Secretary of Health and Human Services as a high priority objective for the year 2010, with a goal of increasing to at least seventy-five percent of the proportion of mothers who breastfeed their infants in the early postpartum period and to at least fifty percent of those who continue to breastfeed until the infant is six months of age; and

WHEREAS: La Leche League International announces its annual Celebration for Breastfeeding in conjunction with the annual World Breastfeeding Week, August 1 – 7, 2006, which is proclaimed by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action in conjunction with the World Health Organization and UNICEF;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Mike Amyx, Mayor of the City of Lawrence, Kansas, do hereby proclaim the week of August 1 – 7, 2006 as

“BREASTFEEDING AWARENESS WEEK”

with special emphasis on breastfeeding promotion and urge all citizens to join me in seeking reliable nutrition information and supporting breastfeeding as a high priority for healthier babies in our state.

Mike Amyx, Mayor

July 25, 2006