Hi

I believe one of the problems in Australia is that health is politically
driven and infant's can't vote! There is minimal investment in the
"early years" and funding is continually allocated to hospitals to
support acute and curative services rather than preventive and early
intervention services and supports. Some state government in Australia
are more proactive than others but we still have a long way to go. The
National Breastfeeding Strategy that was launched by the Federal
Government in 1996-2001 was a great initiative but the distribution of
materials and promotion of the strategy appears to have been
uncoordinated at the local level. I believe that there needs to be a
coordinated approach between Federal government, state government and
local health services in relation to promotion of new strategies and the
delivery of accompanying education and materials to the intended
audience. Only then will we have more success in changing the culture of
resistence that exisits.

 
<http://www.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/publishing.nsf/content/health-pu
bhlth-strateg-brfeed-strategy.htm>
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/publishing.nsf/content/health-pub
hlth-strateg-brfeed-strategy.htm 

"Well we still look to Norway as Lactopia!Seriously, things are not as
bad here in Australia as they are in the US and occassionally something
on Lactnet brings to the fore just how bad things are (like military
mums being separated from their babies, the idea of a govt separating
mother and babe is just inconceiveable here) but we have our own
struggles and it is still most definitely a society hostile to
breastfeeding. We are working hard to make things better for mothers.
our breastfeeding rates have essentially not changed for 10 years, it's
a hard slog! Karleen Gribble Australia"

Regards

Camilla McCauley

RN ONC BHlth Sc(Child Health) IBCLC

Australia

 
<http://www.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/publishing.nsf/content/health-pu
bhlth-strateg-brfeed-strategy.htm>  


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