Apoteka – prijatelj zdravog potomstva

The main objectives of the project were: • To promote and support breastfeeding as a national public health priority, in alignment with WHO and UNICEF recommendations that view breastfeeding rates...

The main objectives of the project were: • To promote and support breastfeeding as a national public health priority, in alignment with WHO and UNICEF recommendations that view breastfeeding rates as indicators of a society's health potential and development. • To increase breastfeeding rates by offering education and support through accessible healthcare professionals, particularly pharmacists. • To empower pharmacists to provide reliable, guideline-based information about the safety of medications, vaccines, vitamins, and herbal remedies during breastfeeding. • To educate pregnant and breastfeeding women about: o The nutritional and developmental benefits of human milk for the child, including support for physical, emotional, cognitive, and sensory development. o The health benefits of breastfeeding for mothers, such as reduced postpartum depression, less bleeding after childbirth, decreased anemia risk, faster return to pre-pregnancy weight, and long-term protection against osteoporosis and some cancers. • To improve medication adherence, safety, and effectiveness through pharmacist-led counseling, ultimately leading to better health outcomes for both mother and child.

The project included several key activities: launching a dedicated subpage and social media profiles to improve outreach and engagement; designing digital educational and promotional materials (brochures, posters, stickers, videos); developing a web application for accessing the National Guidelines on medication use during breastfeeding; organizing symposia and online training sessions for healthcare professionals to strengthen their counseling capacity; managing project implementation; and printing and distributing educational materials through pharmacies and health centers. Each activity aimed to increase awareness, knowledge, and support for breastfeeding among women and healthcare providers.

Concrete project outputs included a fully functional web application with regularly updated guidance on medication safety during breastfeeding; a wide range of open-access educational and promotional materials; trained health professionals with improved skills in breastfeeding support; strengthened partnerships between pharmacists and healthcare institutions; and increased visibility of breastfeeding support topics in the public sphere. These results directly supported national and EU-level priorities in maternal and child health promotion.