NASSAU, The Bahamas -- The Bahamas National Breastfeeding Association (BNBA), held its annual Umbrella-thon Competition on Sunday, October 31, under the patronage of the association’s first president, former nurse Ms. Carlotta Klass.

This year, due to COVID 19 “we are calling it an Umbrella Show,” said Ampusam Symonette who spoke on behalf of the president in her absence.

Seventeen entrants from New Providence, Eleuthera and Abaco participated in the competition (in which it was customary for mothers with infants and BNBA supporters to walk with sheltering umbrellas decorated with themes that promote breastfeeding.) 

This year, the Umbrella ‘show’ winners were: third place the Maternity ward; second place, Sandy Point, Abaco; and in first place, the Classical School.

The BNBA was formed in 1990 after three nurses including Ampusam Symonette and Carlotta Klass were sent to a World Health Organization (WHO) symposium. The nurses returned home to let the country know the importance and value of a mother breastfeeding her baby. In 1993 the association was officially formed with a declaration and The Bahamas becoming a signatory country.

The competition is used as a means to support Cancer month and to educate the public in reference to cancer.

Former nurse, Ms. Klass noted that mothers who breastfeed lower their chance of having breast cancer which is one of the leading ways women die in the country.

The contest was held under the World Health Organization’s theme, ‘Protect Breastfeeding, a Shared Responsibility.’