Awareness Campaign on Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative

The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) has launched the introductory campaign of the Baby Friendly Hospital initiative from January 29 to February 2nd, 2023, at Sidra Medicine

February 6, 2023 - 14:32

Awareness Campaign on Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative

Source: Ministry of Public Health

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

According to the Ministry of Public Health, the campaign aims to raise awareness on the importance of breastfeeding, enable mothers and pregnant women to identify the best habits they can adopt to ensure appropriate nutrition for them and their children, and showcase the global recommendations and the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months and the introduction of healthy complementary foods while continuing breastfeeding until the age of two years. The campaign also introduces the importance of skin-to-skin contact between mother and child from the first moment after birth to strengthen the bond between the mother and baby.

The Ministry of Public Health preceded the campaign by organizing a five-day workshop from January 22nd to the 26^th, 2023 in collaboration with Sidra Medicine to train the Breastfeeding Counselors.

The Breastfeeding Counsellors Training workshop is an accredited workshop launched by WHO and UNICEF to support, promote, and protect breastfeeding by training healthcare providers to provide breastfeeding advice and support to mothers. The workshop is designed to equip health workers with the skills to optimally support mothers and their babies in breastfeeding.

The workshop is part of the implementation of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, which is launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in 1991 with the aim of protecting and promoting the health of pregnant women, new mothers, and their babies.

This initiative was implemented by the Ministry of Public Health in 2016 and is part of the objectives of the National Action Plan for Nutrition and Physical Activity and in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030.

The Breastfeeding Counsellors Training workshop follows the Training of Trainers' course for Breastfeeding Counsellors organized by the Ministry of Public Health in 2019 in cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO).

The workshop aimed to introduce and explain the recommendations for breastfeeding in health facilities, provide evidence-based recommendations on breastfeeding, understand the importance of communication skills and breastfeeding counseling to improve breastfeeding practices, health, and nutrition for mothers and their children. Additionally, the workshop discussed the ten steps to successful breastfeeding and its application, the role of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes in protecting breastfeeding, and the practical application of acquired skills and evaluation of trainers.