The Western Health and Social Care Trust (Western Trust) is celebrating National Breastfeeding Awareness Week (20 – 26 June 2016) having been awarded continued Baby Friendly accreditation from UNICEF.
The Baby Friendly Initiative accredits Trust facilities and health visiting services that adopt internationally recognised standards in the care of mothers and babies.
To achieve this, health visitors ensure parents are supported to make fully informed choices about how they feed their babies.
This accreditation is in addition to the recognition received in 2014 by both Altnagelvin and South West Acute Hospitals from CHKS Top Hospital Awards for their maternity care.
UNICEF auditors were highly impressed with the support given to mothers by Health Visitors and breastfeeding groups from across the Western Trust area.
UNICEF also acknowledged that staff far exceeded the criteria set and were commended for their continued high standard of care provided to pregnant women and new mothers.
Ann McDuff, Assistant Director of Community and Public Health for the Western Trust accredited this achievement to the local health visiting teams: “Western Trust staff have shown great commitment to the Baby Friendly Initiative and continue to provide high quality services to local families along with consistent messages about the importance of infant feeding.
“I would like to congratulate all staff in our hospitals and in the community on the recent UNICEF audit results, who ensure that all mothers have appropriate information and knowledge regarding breastfeeding to make informed decisions about feeding their baby.”
Sarah Davidson, Western Trust Health Improvement Department, said: “Breastfeeding is vitally important for both mother and baby. Breast milk contains everything a baby needs for healthy growth and development, providing the best possible start in life.
“It reduces the risk of infection, allergies and childhood diabetes and at the same time developing a close bond between mother and baby. Each day a mother continues to breastfeed is another day the child receives important health benefits from their mother. A mother should be proud, however long she chooses to breastfeed her baby.”
A spokesperson for the Western Trust said they are committed to supporting breastfeeding.
“Throughout Breastfeeding Awareness Week we are asking various organisations how they can support a woman to breastfeed.
“If a mother feels supported by her partner, family, workplace and the wider community, we are making breastfeeding more acceptable and encouraging mothers to breastfeed for longer.
“For additional information about breastfeeding and breastfeeding support within your area contact your Midwife, Health Visitor of breastfeeding support group or visit www.breastfedbabies.org or www.westerntrust.hscni.net”
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