“The UAE has positively progressed in providing evidence-based care and support for breastfeeding families,” says Dru Campbell, head midwife and lactation consultant at HealthBay Polyclinic in Dubai. “Several hospitals in the UAE have obtained the gold standard from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nationals Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in successfully gaining Baby Friendly Status and there are many other health care facilities who are currently working towards obtaining this initiative.”
Baby Friendly Hospitals adhere strictly to the ten steps of successful breastfeeding as described by WHO, explains Dru, “which include policies such as facilitating immediate and uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact between mum and baby after birth, and supporting mothers to initiate breastfeeding as soon as possible, among others. There is substantial evidence that implementing the Ten Steps significantly improves breast feeding rates.”
