Drive helps Sharjah surpass WHO goals for breastfeeding

sharjah — Since the Sharjah Baby Friendly Emirate Campaign (SBFC) kicked off in 2011, breastfeeding practice across the city has increased from just 18 per cent in 2012 to more than 50 per cent in 2016.

It’s all thanks to the 151 health facilities, workplaces and nurseries successfully accredited by the campaign, according to the Sharjah Baby Friendly Office. The entity pushed the drive towards ensuring a healthy start in life for mothers and babies through breastfeeding and has kept it on track.

The campaign’s efforts culminated in the announcement of Sharjah as the world’s first BabyFriendly City in December 2015.

The emirate now meets and exceeds the World Health Organisation (WHO) global nutrition target for the year 2025, which identifies an exclusive breastfeeding target of at least 50 per cent.

As the official body that oversees the progress and implementation of all the SBFC initiatives, the Sharjah Baby Friendly Office encouraged breastfeeding-friendly policies across work, social and public venues. It successfully conducted over

Promoting breastfeeding has not only benefitted mothers and children, it has raised awareness across the community that this is the most natural and healthy start for a baby.”

Dr Hessa Al Ghazal, executive director, Sharjah Baby-Friendly Office

1,055 meetings and field visits to reach its goals over the past seven years, implemented 25,000 training hours for 2,000 health professionals on supporting new and expecting mothers and breastfeeding habits.

The campaign’s achievements were highlighted in a recent report launched by the office, during World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7), particularly of making the practice more feasible for mothers who may otherwise resort to formula milk solutions.

The report also elucidates the legal achievements made across Sharjah’s government sector, including extending maternity leave to 90 days and specifying the number of hours during the working day for new mothers to breastfeed their babies. The measures also provide practical and psychological support to mothers facing difficulties in nursing their babies, while raising awareness of the huge benefits of breast milk for the child’s development in the first two years.

Feeding the initiatives

The SBFC adopted four initiatives that were implemented simultaneously. The first, Baby-Friendly Health Facilities, was modelled on the Baby-Friendly Hospitals Initiative launched by the WHO and Unicef.

The three other initiatives: Mother-Friendly Workplaces, Breastfeeding-Friendly Nurseries, and Mother-Baby-Friendly Public Places, were unique community-based concepts that aimed to encourage health facilities and the community to support breastfeeding.

Under the Mother-Friendly Workplaces initiative, SBFC carried out 315 visits and meetings, and 70 lectures and workshops to encourage employers to comply with the initiative. As a result, 84 workplaces were recognised as ‘mother-friendly’ from 2011-2017. The ‘Breastfeeding-Friendly Nurseries’ initiative accredited 31 nurseries.

Dr Hessa Al Ghazal, executive director of Sharjah Baby-Friendly Office, said that the report is a testament to the emirate’s commitment to mothers and children. “The achievements in promoting breastfeeding has not only benefitted mothers and children, it has raised awareness across the entire community that this is the most natural and healthy start for a baby. The perception and mindset of the community has developed with it.”

reporters@khaleejtimes.com