Press Release – Belmopan - December 9th, 2010 - The Ministry of Health and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is pleased to announce that the Southern Regional Hospital will be certified as Baby-Friendly on Monday December 13th, 2010 in Dangriga Town at 2:00pm.
The Ministry is especially proud because this ceremony comes one month after Belize was honored with the Americas Award 2010 in the category of “Improvement of Maternal Health” attended by the Minister of Health, Hon. Pablo Marin at a ceremony on November 15th, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia.
The Southern Regional Hospital is the fifth hospital within the public sector that has met all criteria in the promotion, protection and support to successful breastfeeding. No private hospital has yet to achieve this important standard. Breastfed infants have a decreased risk of diarrhea, allergic skin disorders, respiratory and ear infections among others.
The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) is a global program sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to encourage and recognize hospitals that offer an optimal level of care for infant feeding. The BFHI assists hospitals in giving mothers the information, confidence, and skills needed to successfully initiate and continue breastfeeding their babies.
The Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, Corozal Community Hospital and Northern Regional Hospital were all certified in 2008. Punta Gorda Community Hospital was certified in the month of August 2010.
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