Mafraq Hospital Commits To Becoming A Baby-friendly Hospital; Provides More Support For Breastfeeding Mothers

In celebration of the UAE’s National Breastfeeding Weekheld from 10-14 November, Mafraq Hospital has committed to enhanced levels of support for breastfeeding mothers and to implementing the WHO/UNICEF Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative’s10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding. Mafraq Hospital is owned and operated by the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company PJSC (SEHA).

Breastfeeding and mother-baby bonding contribute to healthy growth and development of babies. That’s the basis for the Baby-Friendly Initiative launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in 1991. The WHO recommends breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months of a baby’s life to optimize these benefits. Thereafter, mothers can continue to breastfeed for two years or more, as is mutually desired by mother and baby, and to complement this with solid foods such as mashed fruits and vegetables.

Babies who are not breastfed are at increased risk of infant morbidity and mortality, adult obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis, and breastfed babies and their mothers have less risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer and ovarian cancer. For mothers, breastfeeding also helps lower the risk of breast and ovarian cancer; uses up to 500 calories a day; is cost efficient and can help build a stronger bond between mother and baby.

Themed “Breastfeeding Support: Close to Mothers”, the UAE’s National Breastfeeding Week campaign focused on the support needed to enable new mothers to initiate, establish and maintain proper breastfeeding practices. DrLailaObaid, Pediatrics Neonatology Consultant at Mafraq Hospital said, “Breastfeeding success begins in the hospital. At Mafraq Hospital, we are committed to adopting maternity practices that are supportive of breastfeeding. We are also strong advocates of the social support required to increase a mother’s confidence in her ability to breastfeed beyond the early weeks and months. Therefore, we believe that the key to the best breastfeeding practices is continued day-to-day support for the nursing mother within her home and community."

As part of the week-long awareness campaign, invited members of the La Leche League (LLL), UAE based non-profit organizationprovided breastfeeding counsel and encouraged new mothers through a series of interactive activities. A special booth was set up at Mafraq Hospital to hand out informative brochures to visitors and to give away prizes to nursing mothers who have been breastfeeding their babies for up to two years or more. The team also counseled mothers at the Bawabat Al Sharq mall.

Mafraq Hospital’s trained lactation consultants offer education and support to breastfeeding mothers from the moment of birth and even after mums and babies have left the hospital to go home. “This supports our aim to obtain the WHO/ UNICEF Baby-Friendly designation which is a comprehensive and detailed process”, saidDrObaid.

The Baby-Friendly designation is awarded after a rigorous on-site survey is completed, and maintained by continuing to practice 10 crucial programme elements. The comprehensive programme includes initiating breastfeeding in the first hour of life, "rooming-in" with mums and babies in the same room, educating staff and patients, and fostering breastfeeding support groups.

On the hospital’s journey towards becoming a ‘Baby-Friendly’ hospital, DrObaidadded, “We have a powerful and experienced team at the hospital coming together to rewrite policies and procedures, undergo considerable training, extend skills to all levels of staff, and establish auditing to insure that quality is maintained.”

Emirate:  Abu Dhabi

Date: Nov 20, 2013

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