NEWS RELEASE
ALGOMA PUBLIC HEALTH
************************* APH receives Baby Friendly designation
Today, Algoma Public Health became the fifth public health unit out of 36 health units in Ontario to receive the international Baby Friendly Initiative award!
The Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) is a global program of the World Health Organization and UNICEF which aims to promote, protect, and support breastfeeding.
Algoma Public Health joins Thunder Bay, Peterborough County, Peel Region, and Halton Region in receiving this recognition.
“Algoma Public Health staff is committed to helping mothers make an informed decision about feeding their babies. We want to increase our breastfeeding rates because we know that breast milk is the best food for babies but our goal is to always support families so that their babies are well nourished and cared for,” states Anna Zuccato, program director for Parent Child Services.
The Breastfeeding Committee for Canada (BCC) provides designations to hospitals and community health services that successfully meet standards that will help improve breastfeeding outcomes for mothers and babies.
BFI status was achieved by the implementation of breastfeeding policies, education of all staff, volunteers, community partners, clients and families on the benefits of breastfeeding, and ongoing surveillance of Algoma’s breastfeeding initiation and duration rates.
In January, a three-day assessment of all Algoma Public Health offices was completed.
The assessment team interviewed staff and mothers, accompanied public health nurses on home visits and attended prenatal and parenting programs to assess how well Algoma Public Health was putting their breastfeeding policies and practices into place.
“There’s an excellent rapport between the health unit and the community” states Kathy Venter, lead assessor with the BCC. “All staff were very positive and willing to participate in the assessment. Great team spirit and respect for the clients was evident.”
For more information, visit here or here and search Baby Friendly Initiative.
PHOTO CAPTION: From left, Anna Zuccato, Dr. Allan Northan and Hannele Dionisi display the Baby Friendly Initiative Award.
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