| Breastfeeding welcome here initiative celebrates first year
The Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland (HPA) is celebrating a successful first year of the Breastfeeding welcome here scheme, a Northern Ireland initiative which supports breastfeeding mums when they are out and about with their babies.
Janet Calvert, Regional Breastfeeding Coordinator at the HPA said: “We are delighted with the response we have received from businesses in the past year. There are over 70 businesses and community facilities in the scheme, ranging from coffee shops, restaurants and hotels to community and leisure centres, town halls and libraries.
“Breastfeeding mums who feel that they and their babies are made welcome while they have a cup of coffee, a meal or go shopping, will come back to that business and will promote the business to their friends. Joining the scheme gives organisations an opportunity to boost their business and benefit the local community at the same time. Breastfeeding is good for mums, babies and businesses.”
The latest breastfeeding figures for Northern Ireland show that there has been a rise of almost 10% in the rate of babies being breastfed at birth, with 63% breastfed in 2005 compared to 54% in 2000.1 However, breastfeeding rates in Northern Ireland are consistently lower than in England, Scotland and Wales and continue to be one of the lowest in Europe.
An initiative such as Breastfeeding welcome here is just one way to encourage the social acceptability of breastfeeding in Northern Ireland and help increase and sustain the breastfeeding rates.
The Streat Café in Newtownards is the latest business to join the scheme. Owner Paul Dalzell said: “We decided to join the Breastfeeding welcome here scheme to support the breastfeeding mums who already visit our premises on a weekly basis. As a customer service led business we know the value of repeat custom and word-of-mouth and aim to meet the needs of all our customers.”
The Breastfeeding welcome here scheme has been developed by the HPA in partnership with breastfeeding support groups across Northern Ireland. Businesses which are open to the general public, have non-smoking facilities and support breastfeeding are eligible to join the scheme.
END
Notes
to the editor:
Janet Calvert, Regional Breastfeeding Coordinator at the HPA, will be available for interview on Tuesday 4 July.
Further information on the Breastfeeding welcome here scheme is available from: www.breastfedbabies.org.
1Infant Feeding Survey 2005 commissioned for Northern Ireland by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.
For
further information contact:
Jenny Dougan at the HPA on Tel: 028 9031 1611.
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