Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Helps Mothers to Breastfe

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council is proud to assist World Breastfeeding Week, which takes place yearly within the first week of August. 

The initiative, led by the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF and international well being companions, highlights breastfeeding as a key pillar for lifelong well being, baby improvement and social equality.

Breastfeeding offers quite a few advantages for each toddler and mom. The Public Health Agency’s Children’s Health in Northern Ireland 2023/24 report highlights its position in decreasing the chance of a spread of childhood diseases, together with ear and respiratory infections, gastroenteritis, bowel problems, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and childhood leukaemia. It can be related to long-term well being outcomes, akin to a diminished chance of weight problems and Type 2 diabetes. Mothers who breastfeed are much less more likely to develop breast most cancers, ovarian most cancers and Type 2 diabetes.

Despite these well-established advantages, breastfeeding charges in Northern Ireland stay low. According to the identical report, simply over half of infants are breastfed at hospital discharge, dropping to solely 17.5% by 12 months of age.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council is dedicated to making a supportive and inclusive surroundings for all moms who select to breastfeed. In partnership with the Health and Social Care Trust and the Public Health Agency, the Council actively promotes the Breastfeeding Welcome Here scheme. This initiative helps households simply establish native venues—akin to cafés, eating places, retailers and salons—the place breastfeeding is welcomed and supported.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Philip Campbell, mentioned, “At Newry Mourne and Down District Council, we’re proud to stand with every parent choosing to breastfeed. Our welcoming spaces, listed on the interactive map on the breastfedbabies.org website, reflect our commitment to family, community wellbeing and equality where all feel supported, respected and empowered. I encourage your business to sign up today by contacting our Health Improvement Team.”

Local implementation of the scheme is led by the Council, which works intently with native companies and group venues to make sure they meet the standards for supporting breastfeeding households. Through this partnership strategy, the Council goals to extend the variety of welcoming areas throughout the district, serving to to normalise breastfeeding and supply reassurance to moms that they are going to be supported when out and about.

Businesses that be part of the scheme will obtain promotional supplies and profit from ongoing recognition and awareness-raising campaigns. Participating venues are listed on-line so that folks can simply discover supportive areas whereas visiting their native space.

With over 50 collaborating companies within the Newry space and almost 20 in Downpatrick, the Council invitations extra native institutions to get entangled and make a significant impression on group well being and wellbeing.

Businesses open to most people are inspired to register for the scheme, offered they meet the standards outlined at www.breastfedbabies.org.

For additional info and to entry assets to assist the roll out in what you are promoting, please contact: [email protected].