Dubai Health Authority (DHA) announced that all its facilities are on the path of receiving the Baby-Friendly accreditation from the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
So far three DHA hospitals; Latifa Hospital, Dubai Hospital and Hatta Hospital received the baby-friendly accreditation, while eight DHA primary health care centres; Al Twar, Khawaneej, Barsha, Mankhool, Nad Al Sheba, Nad Al Hamar — Al Safa and Al Badaa Health Centres received the baby friendly accreditation.
Dr Fatima Al Olama, Consultant and Head of Childcare Unit at DHA and Director of the Lactation Training Program in the UAE, said that only four health care centres remain before all DHA facilities that offer mother and child healthcare are baby-friendly. Nad Al Hamar Healthcare centre received the baby-friendly accreditation last week.
The Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative was launched by WHO and UNICEF in 1991, as part of a global effort to implement practises that protect, promote and support breastfeeding.
Dr Fatima Al Olama, Consultant and Head of Childcare at DHA and Director of the Lactation Training Program in the UAE, said the facilities received the accreditation after meeting a seven-point plan that includes training staff on breastfeeding, training pregnant mothers and post-natal mothers on how to breastfeed and the benefits of breastfeeding to name a few.
Al Olama said that receiving the baby-friendly accreditation is of great significance, as breastfeeding has a number of benefits that include lowering the baby’s risk of having asthma or allergies. Breast milk contains antibodies that help your baby fight off viruses and bacteria.
Furthermore, babies who are breastfed exclusively for the first six months, have fewer ear infections, respiratory illnesses, and bouts of diarrhoea. They also have fewer hospitalisations and trips to the doctor. Breastfeeding has also been linked to higher IQ scores in later childhood in some studies.
