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The personality of N. A. Semashko presents incontestable interest as health care official and ideologist of the Soviet health care system who contributed significantly into development of health care. Great number of studies are devoted to analysis of activities of N. A. Semashko in the Soviet period holding position of the First People's Commissar of health care of the RSFSR, initiator and head of the chair of Social hygiene of the Medical Faculty of the First Moscow State University. The studies related to pre-revolutionary period of life of N. A. Semashko are presented in less degree. The article describes, on the basis of publications and archive sources (documents from the Central State Archive of the Samara Oblast, the foundations of the Russian State Library and also the family archive of E. G. Farobina, grand-daughter of N. A. Semashko) the period of life and and activity of N. A. Semashko in the Samara Gubernia after graduating the medical faculty of the Imperial Kazan University. In 1901-1902, after short training in bacteriological laboratory of the Samara Gubernia Zemstvo Hospital and appointment to the post of sanitary and epidemiological doctor of the Zemstvo, N. A. Semashko was directly involved in elimination of epidemics of diphtheria in Orlov Guy village and of anthrax in Alexandria village of the Novouzensky Uezd. The dangerous epidemics were eliminated owing to outstanding medical knowledge, courage and organizational skills of young doctor.

Nowadays, the breast-feeding, despite the approved advantages, is not a standard in many communities. The multi-factorial determinants determining its prevalence need to be supported at various levels - from legal and legislative one to views and values of society, conditions of women's labor and also health care system that can develop a favorable environment for breast-feeding. The breast-feeding effects positively on health, economic development and ecology and therefor it is a benefit for children, women and whole society in short-term and long-term perspective. The defense, propaganda and support of breast-feeding need a political will, and financial investments to implement its advantages.