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Waikato Hospital is Baby Friendly
Media information
For immediate release
20 September 2010
Waikato Hospital is Baby Friendly
Waikato Hospital is once again officially deemed a ‘baby friendly hospital’.
The hospital received the maximum three-year accreditation last week from the New Zealand Breastfeeding Association (NZBA) following an audit last year.
NZBA executive officer Julie Stufkens congratulated Waikato Hospital.
“The facility once again met the standard criteria and passed all of the Ten Steps (to successful breastfeeding).”
NZBA accreditation is received when a facility satisfactorily achieves 10 steps that adhere to international best practice guidelines.
This includes an hour of skin-to-skin contact after birth and promoting exclusive breastfeeding in hospital and at home.
All seven hospitals and maternity facilities operated by Waikato DHB’s hospital provider arm Health Waikato are now accredited to baby friendly standards.
Health Waikato chief operating officer Jan Adams said the achievement was a tribute to the hard work put in by many hospital staff.
"This is an excellent result and came after significant work on staff education across a number of key services
"A lot of hard work went into making this happen."
Healthy Eating, Healthy Action (HEHA) programme manager Janet Hanvey said baby friendly standards are important to maintain as this assists Waikato to continue to improve its breastfeeding rates.
“All newborns should be exclusively breastfed for at least six months to give them the very best start in life.
“Being baby friendly means our hospitals and maternity facilities are centres of breastfeeding support and staff are educated provide this support.”
Mrs Hanvey said breastfeeding provides benefits for both mother and baby.
“Breastfed babies are less likely to have tummy upsets, respiratory and ear infections and it is also proven to help reduce their risk of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease in later life.
“Women who breastfeed are less likely to suffer from post partum haemorrhaging and breast and ovarian cancers. It may also help with losing the weight gained during pregnancy.”
ENDS
Waikato District Health Board
Healthy People. Excellent Care
Waikato District Health Board (DHB) employs over 6500 people and plans, funds and provides hospital and health services to more than 391,770 people in a region covering eight per cent of New Zealand.
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