Monday 6 Aug – SusuIbu.Com attended a lecture for breastfeeding and pregnant mothers by Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, wife of former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, organised by Tanjung Management Services.
Held in conjunction with World Breastfeeding Week 2012, the event titled Breastfeeding – Health & Wellbeing was held at Perdana Leadership Foundation Auditorium, No 1, Jalan P8H, Precinct 8, Putrajaya, on Aug 6, 2012, from 8am-1pm.
The esteemed Tun Dr Siti Hasmah
In her lecture, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah talked about the importance of breastfeeding, her experience as a mother and a doctor. She explained how passionate she was about the natural childbirth process and breastfeeding while practising as a doctor. She witnessed the changing scene from breastfeeding as being a lifestyle in past generations to bottle feeding. Infant formula made its way and became fashionable especially among urban and working women, and this trend continued to rise in the 70’s and 80’s. Tun expressed her frustration in all this.
In her conclusion, Tun stressed the importance of having creches at work places so mothers can have time off to breastfeed their babies. Support and guidance starting from pregnancy, then continuing on to the first few days after delivery and beyond, is also key to breastfeeding success.
It is her hope that all mothers will breastfeed for the health and wellbeing of mothers and their infants. To her, breastfeeding actually completes the natural cycle of childbirth and womanhood.
The lecture was then followed by a SusuIbu.Com contest, which comprised of 2 sections:-
- Find Someone Who: name the person fitting each of the following criteria: any certified IBCLC, any MBfPC or SusuIbu.Com member, and a person who traveled from outside KL area to be in the event (Tun Dr Siti Hasmah).
- Quiz: Answer questions touching on facts about World Breastfeeding Week, SusuIbu.Com, and breastfeeding.
..and the winners (in no particular order) are Roshaiza Derahad, Nur Syazwani Halimuddin, Nurul Hidayah Md Sukarno, Jamaliah Hasaballah, and Syarifah Farizzah Syed Din.
SusuIbu.Com Contest winners collecting their prizes.
At the end of the lecture, our CEO Rita Rahayu (wearing her newborn son) presented a surprise gift to the esteemed Tun – our Nurturing Doll.
Rita presenting our Nurturing Doll to Tun
In conjunction with the lecture, the Ministry of Health organised an exhibition and counselling on breastfeeding by the National Lactation Centre, Hospital Selayang. We had our own booth as well.
Our booth guardian, Pn Ajui
SusuIbu.Com consultants describing our services (From left: Kamariah, Rita, Dr Ashikin)
The esteemed Tun giving her own piece of advice to our consultants (From left: Rita, Kamariah, Dr Ning).
Rita promoted her newly launched book, “Hebatnya Susu Ibu“. Tun commended on the book writing effort and agrees that there should be more books about breastfeeding, parenting and women’s health in Bahasa Melayu. (Rita now owes Tun an autographed copy of her book! 😀 )
Rita sharing a flyer on her new book “Hebatnya Susu Ibu” with Tun.
Just before Tun left our booth, she said “All of you are very lucky nowadays as there are so many products to support working mothers. Where were you when I was breastfeeding and needed all this?” (of which Rita replied cheekily, “We were not born yet, Tun! 😀 )
Finally, no event is complete without a group picture. 🙂
