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Abu Dhabi / Emirates Business
The Health Authority – Abu Dhabi (HAAD), the regulator of the healthcare sector in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, has announced plans to increase
the number of baby-friendly accredited hospitals in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The baby-friendly hospital initiative was launched to ensure that all maternal care facilities support breastfeeding, a practice that is highly beneficial for infant health.
This announcement is part of the ‘Enaya’ breastfeeding campaign launched by HAAD to increase the number of mothers who choose to breastfeed their babies by providing them with the necessary support from the moment their child is born.
Dr. Omniyat AL Hajeri, Director of Public Health and Research at HAAD, said, “HAAD is keen to provide an environment that supports mothers to breastfeed their babies. Hospitals provide mothers with the greatest level of care, attention and support before and after the birth of the baby. Therefore, there is no better place than hospitals to adopt this
mission to support breastfeeding by educating mothers on the benefits of breastfeeding, and supporting them with easy access to lactation consultants and experts around the clock.”
HAAD commissioned a survey to assess the status of baby-friendly hospitals and identify the number of lactation consultants employed by all maternity hospitals in the Emirate. According to this survey, five SEHA hospitals are already ‘baby-friendly’ hospitals. HAAD also organised a number of meetings with hospitals to encourage greater participation in this initiative.
Dr. Fayeza Naser, Deputy CEO of Corniche Hospital, confirmed on the importance of mother’s commitment to continue breastfeed, mentioning that the hospital is offering breastfeeding lessons for mothers since the last three decades.
As a specialist hospital in childbirth, we relieve the importance of education and the availability of qualified experts of lactation consultants in order to help mothers to continue breastfeeding, teach them breastfeeding tips, overcome breastfeeding challenges and help them to achieve their goals.
Dr Fayeza added, “Breastfeeding support mothers group meet once every week at the parent education center at the hospital that offers a free of charge lessons for Corniche patients. Corniche Hospital has been recognised by the International Board of Certified Lactation Consultants, IBCLC, for excellence in breastfeeding care in 2013, the only hospital in the region that has achieved this significant recognition.