Hospital supports ‘Global Big Latch On’ breastfeeding event

Breastfeeding will be promoted during World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) 2017 at Blackpool Victoria Hospital as part of the ‘Global Big Latch On’ event on Friday, August 4.

World Breastfeeding Week which started today, Monday, August 1 and will run until Monday, August 7, was launched 22 years ago by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) to focus on and facilitate actions to protect, promote and support breastfeeding.

The WABA-coordinated WBW now involves more than 175 countries and is endorsed by UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund), WHO (World Health Organisation) and PAHO (Pan American Health Organisation).

The Global Big Latch On has been taking place at registered locations around the world since 2005. As a worldwide peer support and community development event, it aims to strengthen national and global support for breastfeeding and to improve the health of children and women around the world.

Families and other advocates for breastfeeding from across Blackpool and the Fylde coast are invited to join others to show support for breastfeeding in the town during WBW, at the event which will take place on the mezzanine in the Main Entrance of Blackpool Victoria Hospital from 10.15am on Friday.

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s Baby Friendly Co-ordinator, Shel Banks, who has been involved in organising the event and will be there on the day, said: “We know that getting the right information and support for choices around early parenting is vital to new families and we in the Trust’s Families Division to provide that unbiased and non-judgmental support to all families who we work with.

“We are delighted to be able to mark World Breastfeeding Week in the hospital this year by gathering together with local families and advocates to celebrate breastfeeding support across Blackpool and the Fylde coast.”

All breastfeeding mothers are welcome, along with friends, family and other members of the community, to join this celebration of the hospital’s commitment to supporting breastfeeding for all families.

For more on World Breastfeeding Week please go to www.worldbreastfeedingweek.org

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