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The Department of Health (DH) is committed to the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding and has implemented a sustained breastfeeding policy in all Maternal and Child Health Centres (MCHCs) and workplaces within the Department for breastfeeding mothers.
Speaking at a press conference today (July 30) to mark 2011 World Breastfeeding Week, Senior Medical Officer Dr Rachel Cheng said, "Breastmilk is the best natural food for babies. It offers many immediate and long-term health benefits for babies and their mothers and promotes emotional bonding between mother and child."
The Family Health Service of DH has implemented a policy that creates a supportive environment in MCHCs to ensure uniform practice among staff members in promoting breastfeeding and encouraging post-natal staff members to continue breastfeeding after resuming duty.
To further promote breastfeeding, DH collaborated with community partners on a number of community projects this year by organising breastfeeding talks, mother-to-mother support groups and a peer counsellor training programme.
"We are also in the process of developing a multi-media e-learning education kit for medical practitioners who frequently encounter expectant or breastfeeding mothers, including obstetricians, paediatricans and family physicians, to equip them with the necessary knowledge and skills in supporting breastfeeding mothers and managing lactating problems," Dr Cheng said.
DH endorses the recommendations of the World Health Organization in encouraging exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months after birth, with subsequent introduction of complementary food from the age of six months while continuing breastfeeding until the age of two or beyond.
Recognising the implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes as an important public health measure to protect breastfeeding and ensuring proper use of breastmilk substitutes through appropriate marketing practices, DH set up a multidisciplinary taskforce to develop and promote the Hong Kong Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes in June 2010, Dr Cheng said.
On the trend in the prevalence and duration of breastfeeding in Hong Kong, Dr Cheng said the regular breastfeeding survey conducted by the Family Health Service in MCHCs since 1998 showed that the ever breastfeeding rate (proportion of babies who had been breastfed) has increased from 50 per cent for babies born in 1997 to 77 per cent for babies born in 2010. The exclusive breastfeeding rate (those with no infant formula milk or complementary food) for babies four to six months old increased from six per cent to 14 per cent for the same cohort of babies.
However, there is still room for improvement, compared with the higher rates reported in some other countries.
Dr Cheng called for sustained and concerted efforts from all sectors of the community, including families, healthcare professionals, the media and employers, to give encouragement and support to mothers for breastfeeding their babies for a longer period.
To cerebrate 2011 World Breastfeeding Week, the Department of Health, Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative Hong Kong and the Hospital Authority have co-organised a series of publicity and education activities. This year's theme is "Talk to me, Breastfeeding: 3-D experience", which emphasises communication and sharing of breastfeeding from all perspectives. The event will be further promoted through TV and radio advertisements, newspaper feature articles and media interviews to raise community awareness on breastfeeding.
Ends/Saturday, July 30, 2011
Issued at HKT 14:00
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