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HPA
applauds Scotland for protecting a mum’s right
to breastfeed
Today
the Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland welcomed
the move in Scotland to protect a mum’s
right to breastfeed.
The Breastfeeding (Scotland) Bill was recently passed with
wide support. This makes it an offence to stop mothers breastfeeding
children under two in public or family-friendly licensed
premises.
Janet
Calvert, Regional Breastfeeding Coordinator for Northern
Ireland called for similar legislation in
Northern Ireland
and said: “Support for breastfeeding is so important
because of the health benefits for mums and babies. Congratulations
to Scotland on leading the way on this issue. When the Northern
Ireland Assembly gets back up and running we would expect
this to be high on the public health agenda.
“Northern
Ireland has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in Europe.
Last year the Health Promotion
Agency broke
new ground by running a public information campaign that
raised awareness of the health benefits of breastfeeding
for both baby and mum and also aimed to change the breastfeeding
culture to make it socially acceptable. The campaign received
tremendous support. This shows that there could be support
for a Bill similar to the one in Scotland to be passed here
in Northern Ireland.”
Research commissioned by the Health Promotion Agency for
Northern Ireland showed that over one third of people here
consider breastfeeding to be embarrassing and over half feel
breastfeeding should not be seen in public. This negativity
is one of the main reasons mums switch to bottle feeding.
The Breastfeeding
mums need your support – because
every baby deserves the best campaign comprised television
and radio advertising, advertising on buses, and posters.
The television advertisement focused on the health benefits
of breastfeeding for mothers and babies, and also showed
a mum breastfeeding her baby in order to normalise it among
the public. The radio and poster advertising focused on convincing
the general public that breastfeeding is natural and nothing
to be embarrassed about.
Breastfeeding has many health benefits for mums including
a reduced risk of developing certain cancers and a reduced
risk of osteoporosis. For babies the benefits include a reduction
in the risk of developing ear, chest and urinary infections
and breast fed babies are also less likely to develop childhood
obesity and diabetes.
END
For further information
Contact Jenny Dougan on 028 9031 1611 / 9031 1514.
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