Media OutReach
World Breastfeeding Week | Gaza: Over 40% of Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women in Save The Children Clinics Malnourished
Of the 747 women Save the Children screened during the first half of July, 323 (43%) were malnourished [1] – potentially impacting their ability to care for their newborns – which was almost three times as many as in March when the Government of Israel reimposed a total siege on Gaza.
Since April, staff at Save the Children’s two primary healthcare centres operating in Gaza have reported monthly increases in the number of pregnant and breastfeeding women found to be malnourished, with food, water and fuel almost entirely unavailable. Poor nutrition and malnutrition during pregnancy can cause anaemia, pre-eclampsia, haemorrhage and death in mothers, lead to stillbirth, low birthweight, stunted growth and developmental delays for children.
Without breastfeeding support, mothers are reportedly giving their babies bottles of water or water mixed with ground chickpeas or tahini, which can increase risk of malnutrition.
Health experts globally promote breastfeeding to protect child health and improve survival, especially in the first months of life. In addition to essential nutrition, it provides antibodies that protect against common illnesses like diarrhoea, pneumonia and infections. But in Gaza, there have been reports of mothers struggling to produce breastmilk amid severe hunger, stress, dehydration and a lack of privacy caused by multiple displacements.
There are 55,000 pregnant women in Gaza, according to United Nations Population Fund [3]. More than 70,000 children under five and 17,000 pregnant or breastfeeding women are facing acute malnutrition, according to the global humanitarian authority on hunger crises, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) [4] which warned “the worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out” in Gaza.
Ahmad Alhendawi, Save the Children’s Regional Director for the Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe, said:
“Mothers are arriving at our clinics hungry, exhausted, and terrified their babies won’t survive. Some are asking for formula so their baby can still be fed if they die. These are realities no mother should ever have to face.
“We know extreme stress can disrupt breastfeeding, and the relentless airstrikes, and obviously being in a war zone brings on a huge amount of distress – displacement and hunger in Gaza are taking a devastating toll on mothers. Many women are malnourished themselves yet still trying to nourish their babies. Supporting mothers to breastfeed can be a life-saving intervention for both mother and child.”
“When babies have no food, their bodies will start to shut down after a few days. They stop eating, lose energy, and start to waste away. Eventually their organs begin to fail and they become dangerously vulnerable to infection. Malnutrition is treatable and children can recover, but only if we reach them in time. The siege on entry of aid into Gaza must be urgently lifted. With sufficient, safe, and predictable entry processes and routes, humanitarian organisations know how to get the right assistance to people in time to save lives. Anything else, anything less, is a dangerous distraction that is costing mothers their babies, babies their mothers and, in the “best case” scenario, undermining children’s growth, development, and futures. If the world does not act now, more children will die from this preventable, man-made crisis.”
Kalina Tsang, CEO of Save the Children Hong Kong, added:
“It is a mother’s worst nightmare to be unable to feed her own child. The reports from our clinics in Gaza, of mothers so malnourished they cannot breastfeed and so desperate they are preparing for their own deaths, are utterly devastating. This is a complete collapse of humanity. We cannot turn away. I urge the public to help us reach these mothers and babies before it is too late. Your contribution to our Children’s Emergency Fund can provide critical nutritional support and save lives, whenever humanitarian channels are available, in this man-made catastrophe.”
The Gaza Ministry of Health has reported that 180 people have died of malnutrition-related causes since the start of the war in October 2023, including 93 children with at least 25 of these children dying in July as malnutrition rises on a dangerous trajectory.
Save the Children is calling on the Government of Israel to uphold their obligations under international law and allow total access for all aid including breastfeeding support and, in the case of those who have no other option, the entry of infant formula and the essential supplies and services required for their regulated, targeted use in a way that is as hygienic as possible. Infants already devastated by war must not be left without the means to survive. Infant formula and the supplies required to administer it in a hygienic way, like all aid, has been restricted from entering Gaza due to the Israeli government-imposed siege on supplies.
Save the Children has been working in Gaza for decades, running primary healthcare centres and providing essential services to children, mothers, and families, including screening and treatment for malnutrition. We are ready to scale-up lifesaving aid alongside our partners. Our teams deliver water, run child-friendly spaces and mother and baby areas where pregnant and breastfeeding women can receive support on nutrition and infant feeding and psychosocial care. We also set up temporary learning centres to help children continue their education.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
World Breastfeeding Week is held in the first week of August every year, highlighting that breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure child health and survival.
[1]Save the Children screened 747 women from July 1st to 17th 323 (43%) of which were malnourished.
[4]https://www.ipcinfo.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ipcinfo/docs/IPC_GazaStrip_Alert_July2025.pdf
Hashtag: #SavetheChildren #Gaza #breastfeeding #WorldBreastfeedingWeek #Malnutrition #starvation #hunger
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Save the Children Hong Kong
Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In Hong Kong and around the world, we do whatever it takes – every day and in times of crisis – so children can fulfil their rights to a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. With over 100 years of expertise, we are the world’s first and leading independent children’s organisation – transforming lives and the future we share.
Established in 2009, Save the Children Hong Kong is part of the global movement which operates in around 100 countries. We work with children, families, schools, communities and our supporters to deliver lasting change for children in Hong Kong and around the world.
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Media OutReach
SkinLab The Medical Spa Recognised at the 2026 Singapore Retailers Association Awards (SRA) for Excellence in Beauty and Cosmetics
For SkinLab, this reflects two decades of building a holistic beauty ecosystem spanning medical aesthetics, skin health, and wellness, under Dr Kelvin Chua, Senior Medical Director and Founder of SL Aesthetic Group. Treatments are personally developed by Dr Chua to address different skin concerns, such as acne, pigmentation, sensitivity, rosacea, dryness, and ageing. The medical spa also offers a range of skincare products formulated for Singapore’s humid climate and to support long-term skin health.
With 10 outlets islandwide, SkinLab has cared for more than 100,000 customers through this model of doctor-designed care. As no two skin conditions present the same way, each treatment can be customised to individual needs and preferences.
SkinLab has also been recognised by Harper’s BAZAAR, HerWorld, and Singapore Women’s Weekly for treatments targeting deep hydration, rejuvenation, and complexion correction. Behind these treatment outcomes are medical-grade technologies, including the LDM Triple, a triple-frequency ultrasound that targets multiple skin depths simultaneously; FDA-approved Lumenis M22 IPL system for photorejuvenation and pigmentation; Onda Pro with Coolwaves™ technology for body contouring; and the globally-recognised HydraFacial.
The medical spa continuously invests in technology that improves the customer experience, including using AI-assisted skin analysis to support consultations alongside chatbot-based scheduling to reduce waiting time and streamline appointment bookings.
SkinLab’s commitment to holistic care extends beyond treatment sessions, promoting skin health literacy educational content and workshops with doctors from sister brand SL Aesthetic Clinic.
“This award is a valuable milestone that reflects how far SkinLab The Medical Spa has grown as a brand,” says Dr Chua. “From the very start, our brand was designed with the customer at the centre, and that principle continues to guide every treatment developed and every experience delivered moving forward. The brand remains committed to advancing medical-led facial treatments that address a wide range of skin concerns more effectively.”
Looking ahead, SkinLab The Medical Spa remains committed to advancing its medical-led approach to skin health, continuing to explore and adopt clinically validated technologies to deliver more individualised care while reinforcing its commitment to clinical excellence across all its outlets.
To learn more, visit: www.skinlabmedspa.com
Hashtag: #SkinLabTheMedicalSpa #SLAestheticGroup #SingaporeRetailersAssociation
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About SkinLab The Medical Spa
SkinLab The Medical Spa brings together the attentive, understated service of a world-class spa with medically grounded aesthetic science. As the dedicated medical spa brand of SL Aesthetic Group, SkinLab focuses on non-invasive facial treatments for acne, pigmentation, sensitive skin, and overall skin rejuvenation, delivering evidence-based care that supports long-term skin health.
Founded in the 2000s, SL Aesthetic Group is a healthcare and aesthetics group specialising in skin and hair health, women’s wellness, and holistic medicine. Its portfolio includes SL Aesthetic Clinic, a doctor-led medical aesthetics practice; SkinLab The Medical Spa; TrichoLab, a specialist hair and scalp centre; PROLOGUE, a women’s wellness and lifestyle medical clinic; and Euphie Skin Solutions in Malaysia. Across its network of clinics and outlets, the Group offers a comprehensive range of FDA-approved aesthetic and medical treatments, all supervised by trained and certified healthcare professionals holding Certificates of Competency (COC) recognised by the Aesthetic Practice Oversight Committee (APOC).
SkinLab The Medical Spa operates 10 locations across Singapore, including its flagship medical spa at Wheelock Place, while SL Aesthetic Group has a network of more than 20 clinics and outlets across Singapore and Malaysia.
The launch ceremony was attended by Mr. Do Quang Thai, First Secretary of the Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in the Kingdom of Denmark, together with representatives from leading Danish organizations, including 3F, Dansk Erhverv, DPT and Carnegie Investment Bank, alongside strategic partners and industry stakeholders from the transport, technology, energy, finance and infrastructure sectors.
As one of the world’s leading cities in sustainable urban mobility, Copenhagen was chosen as Green SM’s first European market. Here, the company aims to complement the city’s existing transport network by offering another reliable, fully electric mobility option for residents and visitors alike.
In Denmark, the company operates a fully electric fleet of VinFast VF 6 and VF 8 vehicles, serving a wide range of everyday urban travel needs. Unlike many ride-hailing platforms that primarily connect passengers with independent drivers, Green SM directly owns and manages its fleet and oversees driver operations to help ensure consistent service quality and customer experience. During the initial phase of operations, Green SM will focus on establishing a reliable local operation, ensuring full compliance with Danish regulations, and continuously improving its service based on feedback from customers, drivers, and other stakeholders.
Delivering a safe, professional, and consistent customer experience begins with Green SM’s drivers. Before serving customers, every driver completes comprehensive training in road safety, customer service, operating procedures, and electric vehicle operation. Together with ongoing training and a robust local operations system, this helps ensure every journey reflects the high standards Green SM is committed to delivering.
Customers can book rides through the Green SM app, available on the App Store and Google Play. Fares are displayed before each trip is confirmed, and electronic receipts are issued automatically at the end of every journey. To mark its launch in Copenhagen, Green SM is offering new customers five (5) vouchers worth 25% off each trip, up to a maximum discount of 100 DKK per ride throughout the Grand Launch period from July 30 to September 30, 2026.
Richard Nabil Chahine, CEO of Green SM Europe, said: “Cities shape the future of mobility long before companies do. Copenhagen is one of those cities. That is why beginning our European journey here carries special meaning for Green SM. We come with deep respect for the standards already established here, drawing on what we have learned from serving millions of journeys across Asia. Our ambition is simple: to become a trusted mobility partner by delivering safe, professional and fully electric journeys that people can rely on every day. If we earn that trust, growth will naturally follow.”
Green SM’s expansion into Europe reflects the company’s long-term approach to international growth. Rather than prioritising rapid expansion, Green SM focuses on building well-structured local operations, adapting its services to local market needs, and earning trust through consistently reliable service.
With its fully electric fleet and low-emission operating model, Green SM hopes to contribute to Denmark’s long-standing ambitions for more sustainable mobility while providing another practical transport choice for everyday journeys.
Founded in Vietnam in 2023, Green SM currently operates in Vietnam, Laos, Indonesia, the Philippines, India and Kazakhstan. Through its fully electric fleet, technology platform and consistent operating standards, the company is steadily expanding internationally while adapting its services to local market needs.
Hashtag: #GreenSM
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The collaboration marks a significant moment for Taiwan’s international media presence, as the completion of Gaudí’s vision draws global attention to one of the world’s most visited cultural landmarks. NHK has documented the construction of the Sagrada Família for decades, building a relationship of trust with the basilica’s team that enabled joint coverage.
TVBS crews filmed in areas rarely accessible to media, including the crypt where Gaudí is buried, architectural workshops, and key structural sections of the basilica. The team conducted interviews with architects and experts involved in the project during preparations for the inauguration ceremony. Construction on the church began in 1882, one year before Gaudí took over as chief architect.
Taiwanese actress Lin Chi-ling joined the reporting team in Barcelona as a cultural ambassador for the project. Lin met with architects and experts to explore the basilica through the perspectives of architecture, aesthetics, and cultural heritage. Her involvement added a cultural dimension to the coverage beyond conventional architectural reporting.
The coverage brought together partners from Taiwan’s technology and financial sectors. HTC, through its VIVE Arts initiative, contributed its immersive experience “Gaudí, the Atelier of the Divine.” The virtual reality program allows audiences to explore Gaudí’s architectural world in new ways, transcending geographical and physical boundaries.
TS Financial Holding Co., Ltd., which has long supported arts and cultural exchange, sponsored the live broadcast. The company cited values of integrity, innovation, and sustainability in joining the project. The cross-sector collaboration extended Taiwan’s cultural advocacy onto the international stage, connecting the 144-year architectural endeavor to audiences in Taiwan and Chinese-speaking communities worldwide.
TVBS integrated AI-powered real-time translation technology throughout the live coverage, facilitating multilingual communication across international production teams. The project showcased Taiwan’s ability to connect industries and communities across borders. TVBS, NHK, HTC, and TS Financial Holding Co., Ltd., together documented a defining milestone in the Sagrada Família’s history.
Hashtag: #TVBS
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