The natural breast feeding support committee in Dubai Medical District launched the “primary health centers child friendly” initiative.

Nasser Al Budoor, Director of Dubai Medical District under the umbrella of the Ministry of Health, stated that the initiative adopts the strategy plan of the ministry of health for the years “2014-2016” to enhance the healthy lifestyles of the UAE society and disseminate health awareness. The event also coincides with the natural breastfeeding national week beginning from 8-11 November.

“children have the right to be brought in a healthy upbringing and encourage the society to carry out their duties towards children. We assure the importance of this initiative in enhancing awareness among the employees of the health sector to support mothers and encourage them for natural breastfeeding. The world health organization, specialized medical associations and organizations encourage mothers to adopt breastfeeding at least for the baby’s first six months up to two years due to its important value ”, Al Budoor said.

Dr. Latifa Al Awadhi, Maternity and child care specialist at Dubai Medical District in the Ministry of Health, stated that natural breastfeeding has been proved scientifically and medically to have an important value for the health of both mother and child. It also has a physical and psychological impact on the child to.. according to the statistics of the World Health Organization (WHO), about 40% of the infants who are less than 6 months old are being breast fed.

“The committee includes members from the departments of preventive medicine, primary health care and Al Baraha hospital. In the UAE, there are currently 10 child friendly hospitals that are approved by both the UNICEF and WHO. Our initiative aims to make all the primary health centers in Dubai Medical district as child friendly till the year 2017”, Dr. Latifa said.

Through this initiative, the committee will apply the seven points policy to approve the health centers as child friendly and provide care for both pregnant mothers and babies. The committee will also adopt the following steps:

• a written policy about the importance of natural breastfeeding and acknowledge all the centers’ employees with it.
• train all the involved employees on the necessary skills that must be used to apply the policy of the centers.
• educate pregnant mothers and provide mothers with information about natural breastfeeding, its importance and dangers of artificial milk.
• encourage mothers to practice and continue natural breastfeeding.
• encourage natural breastfeeding with the mixture of complementary food for the baby at the right time.
• continue the support between the healthcare team, breastfeeding support groups and the society.