1 Mar 07
A Baby Friendly Award has been presented to midwifes at The Royal Naval Hospital (RNH), Gibraltar, making it the first military hospital to win international recognition from UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund).
The Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association Forces Help (SSAFA FH) midwifery team, based at the hospital, were supported by the hospital commander to join forces with UNICEF UK's Baby Friendly Initiative. They aimed to increase breastfeeding rates and improve care for mothers at the Royal Naval Hospital.
The Award was presented by His Excellency the Governor of Gibraltar, Lieutenant General Sir Robert Fulton KBE and the event was attended by the midwives, SSAFA FH staff, members of the Command and some of the families who took part in the initiative.
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 and provide support to enable successful breastfeeding.
The Award is given to health facilities after an intensive assessment by a UNICEF team has shown that recognised best practice standards are in place. The assessment involved one to one interviews with all midwives, the hospital paediatrician, and pregnant or newly delivered women.
The Baby Friendly Initiative Programme Director, Andrew Radford said:
"We are delighted that the Royal Naval Hospital has achieved full Baby Friendly status. Surveys show us that most mothers want to breastfeed but don't always get the support they need. Mothers at the Royal Naval Hospital, Gibraltar can be confident that their midwives/health visitor will provide the highest standard of care."
Article and picture published with kind permission from: www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/
