This Black History Month, we are honored to remember and share the leadership of U.S. Surgeons General, Dr. Regina Benjamin and Dr. David Satcher, in bringing breastfeeding to the national stage. These events have shaped breastfeeding advocacy and support. We also acknowledge the responsibility we have to using the Breastfeed Orange NC platform to support health equity for Black lactating families in our community and beyond.
In October, 2000, U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher MD, PhD released the landmark document – Blueprint for Action on Breastfeeding – to increase breastfeeding rates in the U.S. The Blueprint for Action on Breastfeeding identified breastfeeding as optimal infant feeding and addressed barriers to successful breastfeeding. It established a breastfeeding policy for the nation and included 19 action steps that focused on education, training, awareness, support, and research. And, importantly, the Blueprint for Action on Breastfeeding sought to address disparities in breastfeeding rates, particularly in minority and marginalized communities.
Low breastfeeding rates documented in the Blueprint for Action is a serious public health challenge, particularly in certain minority communities…With scientific evidence indicating that breastfeeding can play an important role in an infant’s health, the time has come for us to work together to promote optimal breastfeeding practices.
Dr. David Satcher, Press Release Blueprint for Action on Breastfeeding
This groundbreaking work, Blueprint for Action on Breastfeeding, paved that way for the seminal work, The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding.
In January 2011, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin, MD, MBA released The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding. It was and remains a pivotal work to improve support for breastfeeding families. The Call to Action outlines 20 action steps, providing strategies to remove barriers to successful breastfeeding and targeting all of us – parents and their families, healthcare professionals, childcare and education programs, employers, public health officials and researchers, and all in our communities – to take these steps!
This Call to Action describes in detail how different people and organizations can contribute to the health of mothers and their children. Rarely are we given the chance to make such a profound and lasting different in the lives of so many. I am confident that this Call to Action will spark countless imaginative, effective, and mutually supportive endeavors that improve support for breastfeed mothers and children in our nation.
Dr. Regina Benjamin, Foreward: Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding
Thank you, Dr. Satcher and Dr. Benjamin, for your dedication and inspiration! Your work has given voice to the role that everyone has in the community. Breastfeed Orange NC is dedicated to meeting the call in these two important documents to remove barriers to breastfeeding in our community.
Additional Resources
Learn more about the Blueprint for Action on Breastfeeding (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1595047/)
Learn more about The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding and Dr. Benjamin’s words on this important initiative. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK52682/)
The Call to Action on Breastfeeding Executive Summary: https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/breastfeeding-call-to-action-executive-summary.pdf