ProMoM Inc. - Promoting the awareness and acceptance of breastfeeding.

The 3 Minute Activist
Department of Health and Human Services (November 2003).

The planned Ad Council Campaign for Breastfeeding, as designed and accepted by DHHS Office of Women's Health, is in danger of being altered,delayed or abandoned. Please use the form below to send Tommy G.Thompson,Secretary of HHS, a letter expressing your objections and your vote of support for the Ad Council Breastfeeding Campaign.

Participating is easy, just fill in your name and email address and add anything to the letter that you'd like, and press the submit button at the bottom.

Name:
Email:
Subject:

Honorable Tommy G. Thompson Secretary Department of Health and Human Services 200 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20201 Dear Secretary Thompson, I am writing to express my deep concern regarding recent actions that I understand have been taken by representatives of the infant formula industry regarding the National Breastfeeding Awareness Campaign developedby The Advertising Council in cooperation with the Department of Health and Human Services Office on Womens Health. It is also my understanding that as the result of these actions both the content of the campaign as well as the launch date are in jeopardy. This campaign is an essential element of the strategy of the United States to achieve the Healthy People 2010 breastfeeding goals of at least 75% of all newborns being breastfed, 50% still breastfeeding at 6 months of age and 25% continuing to a year or beyond. When these goals are achieved, thousands of episodes of illness in infants and young children will not occur, the risk of childhood obesity will be lowered, and between 3.5 and 4 billion dollars will be saved annually. The Advertising Council has an outstanding record of successful campaigns to achieve behavior change. The content of the National Breastfeeding Awareness Campaign strategy has been carefully designed by the Council in response to discussions with thirty-six focus groups conducted in four regions of the country. The focus groups, formed to ensure diversity of ethnicity, gender, age, marital and socioeconomic status indicated that it was essential that the health consequences of not breastfeeding be clearly communicated in the campaign. The messages have been designed to respond to this recommendation. Given the success of prior Advertising Council campaigns there is no justification for altering the campaign strategy. I urge you to support the scheduled launch of the campaign and to retain the content as developed. Helping all Americans live longer, better, and healthier lives, will be significantly enhanced by fully supporting the National Breastfeeding Awareness Campaign. Sincerely,
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The 3 Minute Activist Department of Health and Human Services (November 2003).

The 3 Minute Activist
Department of Health and Human Services (November 2003).