Baby-friendly award for LJMU
03 September 2010
Liverpool John Moores University has been awarded a Certificate of Commitment in its first step towards gaining international recognition from the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative for the high levels of training in breastfeeding provided to students on its Midwifery BA (Hons) programme.
“We decided to work with the Baby Friendly Initiative to ensure a high standard of training in breastfeeding for all student midwives graduating from this course,” said Clare Maxwell (Midwifery Lecturer).
“We know that many women give up breastfeeding before they want to because of difficulties which could have been prevented if skilled help had been on hand. By ensuring that our students are fully trained in how to help a mother breastfeed her child, more women will be able to breastfeed their babies longer.”
Clare Maxwell continued: “Breastfeeding protects babies against a wide range of serious illnesses including gastroenteritis and respiratory infections in infancy as well as allergies and diabetes in childhood. We also know that breastfeeding reduces the mother’s risk of some cancers”.
The Baby Friendly Initiative, set up by UNICEF and the World Health Organisation, is a global programme which provides a practical and effective way for health services to improve the care provided for all mothers and babies.
The Baby Friendly University Award was launched in the UK in April 2008 – the first award anywhere in the world – by the then Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo, in order to ensure high levels of training in breastfeeding are incorporated in midwifery and health visitor training courses.
The Certificate of Commitment recognises that a University is dedicated to implementing recognised best practice standards in breastfeeding training, and is part way along the road to full Baby Friendly Accreditation.
“We are delighted that Liverpool John Moores University has received this award,” said Baby Friendly Initiative Programme Director Sue Ashmore. “Surveys show that most mothers want to breastfeed but don’t always get the support they need. Working towards full Baby Friendly Accreditation means that Liverpool John Moores University is addressing this problem and aiming to ensure more mothers can successfully breastfeed their babies in future.”
