This year’s MILK campaign invited friends, family and colleagues to get together during August for a morning or afternoon tea at their home, workplace or local cafe in support of mums and babies in Timor-Leste. Supporters were also encouraged to participate via a virtual MILK event as part of the MILK ‘Everyday Hero’ campaign and follow the MILK Facebook page. 

Meanwhile in Timor-Leste, Fundasaun Alola’s maternal and child health team were busy running healthy baby contests and breastfeeding quizzes in villages across the country in celebration of world breastfeeding week (pictured).

We are very excited to report that the 2019 campaign raised a total of almost $10,000. We say a big ‘obrigada barak’ to all those who supported MILK this year.

Funds raised through MILK go toward maternal and child health initiatives in Timor-Leste including: 

*Alola’s ‘Suku HadomiInan no Oan’ (Village loves mothers and babies) groups and Mothers Support Groups which encourage and support mothers to initiate breastfeeding immediately after delivery, to breastfeed exclusively for the first six months of life and to continue breastfeeding for at least two years along with introduction of appropriate complementary feeding  

*Alola’s hospital liaison officers who support the initiation of breastfeeding to all mothers and provide early intervention for premature and underweight babies by educating mothers on cup feeding using breast milk as well as Kangaroo Mother Care

*Alola’s ‘Safe Birthing – Birth Preparedness Planning Project across villages which supports pregnant women to develop a birth plan, access professional childbirth care and gather the support of their community to organise transport when labour begins. The program also encourages mothers to use a nearby health facility to assist with safe birthing.

For more information, visit https://www.alola.org.au/milk/