US Breastfeeding Medicine: SBFC increased exclusive breastfeeding rate at 6months

Sharjah’s Baby-Friendly Campaign (SBFC) has been held up as a model example by American peer reviewed journal “Breastfeeding Medicine” this month. The publication, printed in New York, USA, is the official journal of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine and it carried a four page feature, highlighting Sharjah’s campaign. 

The article praised His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah for launching the campaign and recognised Sheikha Bodour al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), President of the Campaign and Honorary President of the Breastfeeding Friends Association for her patronage of the SBFC launched in 2011. 

The article highlighted that the campaign seeks to improve and preserve the well-being of mothers and babies by encouraging mothers to breast feed and increase the number of months babies are breast fed for. Under the SBFC were four initiatives: Baby-Friendly Health Facility; Mother-Friendly Workplace, Breastfeeding-Friendly Nursery and Mother-Baby Friendly Public Place. Once an organization met the criteria for any of these initiatives, it was awarded the designation or accreditation of that initiative.

The journal further explains that the vision of SBFC is to create a breastfeeding culture where feeding the baby would be valued, protected and considered normal, not only within healthcare facilities but also in workplaces, day care centres, nurseries and public places. It stated the evident success of the campaign that led to an increase of babies who are exclusively breast fed at six months and a decrease in the number who are bottle fed at both four months and six months.

Details of each of the initiatives are explored in the article which includes training healthcare staff in the skills necessary to implement a policy that endorsed breastfeeding as the norm, promoting cooperation among healthcare staff, having a written breastfeeding policy and providing a welcoming atmosphere for breast feeding. 

The campaign has sought to improve and preserve the well-being of mothers and babies by encouraging mothers to breastfeed and increase the number of months babies are breast fed for.