Conference To Support and Promote Breastfeeding in Nova Scotia

Health professionals and community partners from across the province will be in Halifax on Wednesday, March 29, learning what they can do to help encourage more Nova Scotia mothers to breastfeed their infants for longer.

A conference, called Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI): Making it Work in Nova Scotia, will focus on initiatives and programs to make breastfeeding the cultural norm in our province.

In October 2005, Nova Scotia became the second province in Canada (after Quebec) to adopt a provincial breastfeeding policy.

"Supporting women who breastfeed increases the health benefits for children and mothers in Nova Scotia," said Barry Barnet, Minister of Health Promotion and Protection. "Wednesday's gathering is an important step that follow our provincial breastfeeding policy. Education is a key step towards the Baby Friendly Initiative."

The BFI is an international program established by the World Health Organization and UNICEF to promote, support and protect breastfeeding worldwide in hospitals and in the community. It requires health-care providers, families and communities to work together to ensure a breastfeeding friendly environment.

Guest speakers for the event include Marilyn Sanders, national co-ordinator for the Breastfeeding Committee for Canada, Kathy Venter, BFI trainer and assessor, and Ginette Belanger, master evaluator for BFI. They will speak on BFI and how Nova Scotia can support this international initiative. Officials from Nova Scotia Health Promotion and Protection will also discuss their efforts to promote breastfeeding through www.momsanddads.ca, the department's parenting website.

Nova Scotia has one of Canada's lowest rates of breastfeeding initiation and duration. Research shows that only 24.1 per cent of Nova Scotia mothers breastfeed exclusively at four months.

More than 175 participants will be taking part in the all-day conference.